China’s Thorium Reserves: A Game-Changer for Global Energy

A recent national survey has revealed that China may possess vast reserves of thorium, a radioactive metal that could be the key to ending the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.

A newly declassified report suggests that these reserves far exceed previous estimates, positioning China on the brink of an unprecedented energy revolution.

According to Geological Review, a Chinese scientific journal, mining waste from a single site in Inner Mongolia over just five years contains enough thorium to power the United States for more than 1,000 years. Meanwhile, the Bayan Obo mining complex alone is estimated to produce one million tons of thorium—sufficient to power China for 60,000 years.

Thorium produces up to 200 times more energy than uranium. Its reactors do not require water for cooling, cannot undergo meltdowns, and generate less radioactive waste. This has led China to launch major projects, including the world’s first molten salt thorium reactor, set to begin operations in the Gobi Desert by 2029.

Despite its benefits, this energy revolution faces significant hurdles, such as the high environmental costs of thorium extraction and the need to modify existing uranium-based nuclear infrastructure. However, China is pressing forward with this alternative energy source, potentially positioning itself as a global leader in clean nuclear power and threatening the century-old dominance of fossil fuels.