this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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https://archive.is/2nQSh

It marks the first long-term, stable operation of the technology, putting China at the forefront of a global race to harness thorium – considered a safer and more abundant alternative to uranium – for nuclear power.

The experimental reactor, located in the Gobi Desert in China’s west, uses molten salt as the fuel carrier and coolant, and thorium – a radioactive element abundant in the Earth’s crust – as the fuel source. The reactor is reportedly designed to sustainably generate 2 megawatts of thermal power.

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[–] Vorticity@lemmy.world 105 points 1 day ago (18 children)

If true, this is a huge step! Congrats to China!

"Strategic stamina" is something that the US used to have but which has disappeared as the country just tries to catch its breath.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 26 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (8 children)

If it's true, China has energy security for the foreseeable future - as Thorium is usually found along side rare earths, and China has the largest deposits of those. More than anywhere else in the world.

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