China has discovered a massive thorium deposit that could provide energy for the next 60,000 years, according to a recently declassified national geological survey.
The discovery was made at the Bayan Obo mining complex in Inner Mongolia, as revealed by a report shared on the BRICS intergovernmental organization’s official ‘X’ handle. The report described the find as a potential game-changer for global energy, offering an alternative to fossil fuels and traditional uranium-based nuclear power.
The National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resource Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing in Beijing conducted the geological survey, identifying 233 thorium-rich zones across China.
According to scientists, five years’ worth of mining waste from the Bayan Obo iron ore site contains enough thorium to power the United States for over 1,000 years. Experts estimate that if fully exploited, the site could yield up to one million tonnes of thorium.
“For over a century, nations have been engaging in wars over fossil fuels. It turns out the endless energy source lies right under our feet,” a Beijing-based geologist said. The geologist chose to remain anonymous due to restrictions on discussing mineral deposits without official authorization.
Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive element and has long been viewed as a safer alternative to uranium in nuclear reactors. Unlike uranium, thorium is not directly fissile but can be converted into uranium-233, which can sustain nuclear fission.
In molten-salt reactors, thorium is combined with lithium fluoride and heated to high temperatures, triggering a chain reaction. This method is considered more efficient than conventional uranium reactors, produces less nuclear waste, and reduces the risk of nuclear meltdowns.
China has already taken steps towards thorium-based nuclear technology. It has approved the construction of the world’s first thorium molten-salt reactor (TMSR) in the Gobi Desert. The pilot project aims to generate 10 megawatts of electricity and is expected to be operational by 2029.
Beijing has emphasized that thorium reactors are a vital part of its long-term energy strategy, as the country looks to reduce its dependence on coal and imported fossil fuels.
However, the use of thorium-based reactors still faces several challenges. Extracting thorium from rare earth ores requires significant amounts of acid and energy, producing large amounts of waste. There are also concerns about the possibility of thorium by-products being used to develop nuclear weapons, though some experts argue that these by-products are not suitable for weaponization.
The discovery aligns with China’s broader push for nuclear innovation. Researchers are exploring thorium’s potential in space technology, with plans for lunar reactors to power future moon bases.
In addition, China recently unveiled the world’s first thorium-powered nuclear container ship design, further highlighting thorium’s versatility across different industries.
