China's Thorium Reactor Aims To Fuse Power And Parity

2025-11-10 05:01:49

(MENAFN- Asia Times) China's thorium-fueled leap could power its Arctic and AI ambitions alike – fusing energy security, technological sovereignty and great power aspirations.

This month, multiple media outlets reported that China has unveiled a world-first thorium-fueled molten salt reactor (TMSR) to power a 14,000-container cargo ship, marking a potential revolution in nuclear maritime propulsion and energy security.

The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics announced that its two megawatt experimental reactor in Gansu province achieved the first-ever thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion, proving the feasibility of using thorium - a safer, more abundant and non-proliferation-risk element - in molten salt systems.

Meanwhile, Jiangnan Shipbuilding's Hu Keyi revealed that the upcoming thorium-powered ship will use a 200 megawatt reactor driving a supercritical CO2 Brayton-cycle generator to produce 50 megawatts of electricity, enough for years of continuous operation without refueling.

The sealed, modular reactor operates at atmospheric pressure, eliminating explosion risk, and incorporates passive safety systems that prevent meltdowns by solidifying molten fuel in emergencies.

With conversion efficiencies of 45–50%, China's thorium project could free it from dependence on imported uranium - over 80% of its supply - and leverage vast domestic thorium reserves in Inner Mongolia.

Planned in three stages through 2035, China's thorium program aims to scale from experimental to 100 megawatt demonstration plants, cementing its lead in fourth-generation nuclear technology.

Beyond cargo ships and naval propulsion, China's thorium reactor technology could power nuclear-powered icebreakers, essential for its growing interests in the Arctic region.

, China describes itself as a“near-Arctic” state while outlining its interests in the region. Notably, the paper mentions a“Polar Silk Road (PSR),” which extends the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to the region.

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