By Daniel Peters
China has discovered a massive thorium deposit capable of supplying energy for the next 60,000 years, according to a declassified national geological survey.
According to a report on an intergovernmental organization, Brazil, Russia, India, and China’s (BRICS) ‘X’ handle, the discovery was made at the Bayan Obo mining complex in Inner Mongolia.
BRICS said this could mark a major shift in global energy dependence, offering an alternative to fossil fuels and traditional uranium-based nuclear power.
Furthermore, the geological survey, conducted by the National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resource Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing in Beijing, identified 233 thorium-rich zones across China.
Scientists estimate that just five years’ worth of mining waste from the Bayan Obo iron ore site contains enough thorium to meet the energy needs of the United States for over 1,000 years. If fully exploited, the site could yield up to one million tonnes of thorium, potentially revolutionizing global energy production.
“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,” said a Beijing-based geologist who requested not to be named because discussion about mineral deposits requires authorization.
Thorium, a naturally occurring radioactive element, has long been considered a potential 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.
When used in molten-salt reactors (MSRs), thorium is mixed with lithium fluoride and heated to high temperatures to initiate a chain reaction.
This process is more efficient than conventional uranium reactors, produces significantly less nuclear waste, and reduces the risk of nuclear meltdowns.
China has already begun investing heavily in thorium-based nuclear technology and has approved the construction of the world’s first thorium molten-salt reactor (TMSR) in the Gobi Desert.
The pilot project is expected to generate 10 megawatts of electricity and is set to be operational by 2029. Beijing has positioned thorium reactors as a crucial component of its long-term energy strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on coal and imported fossil fuels.
Despite its potential, widespread use of thorium-based reactors still faces technological and economic challenges. Extracting thorium from rare earth ores requires large amounts of acid and energy, generating significant waste. Additionally, there are concerns over thorium’s potential use in nuclear weapons production, though some experts argue that its by-products are unsuitable for weaponization.
The discovery of China’s vast thorium reserves coincides with the country’s push for nuclear innovation. Researchers are also exploring the use of thorium in space, including plans for lunar reactors to power future moon bases.
China has recently unveiled the world’s first thorium-powered nuclear container ship design, further showcasing the element’s potential in multiple industries.
