Chinese scientists have successfully built and fueled the world’s first working thorium molten salt reactor, using declassified U.S. research to achieve a long-elusive clean energy milestone in the Gobi Desert.
At a Glance
- Chinese team completed a 2 MW thorium molten salt reactor in the Gobi Desert
- They based their design on declassified 1960s U.S. research
- The reactor achieved the first full reload of fresh thorium salt fuel in this class
- Thorium reactors offer lower waste and proliferation risks than uranium-based systems
- China plans to adapt the technology for maritime shipping to cut carbon emissions
Borrowed Knowledge, Bold Innovation
The breakthrough, achieved by researchers at China’s Academy of Sciences, was enabled by careful study of Cold War-era U.S. research. Lead scientist Xu Hongjie confirmed that his team had “mastered every technique in the literature—then pushed further,” crediting declassified U.S. documents as a foundational source. According to a report by Firstpost, the Chinese prototype not only achieved sustained operation but also performed a successful reload using fresh thorium-based molten salt fuel—an industry first.
Watch a report: China’s Thorium Reactor Breakthrough Explained.
Why Thorium Could Change Everything
Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are seen by many as the future of safe nuclear energy. Unlike conventional uranium-based reactors, MSRs operate at atmospheric pressure and use liquid fuel, making them inherently safer and less prone to meltdown. They also generate waste that decays over decades—not millennia—minimizing long-term storage hazards.
China’s experimental reactor, which operates at 2 megawatts, demonstrates the real-world potential of this technology. As reported by Times of India, thorium offers a scalable, cleaner nuclear option with minimal weaponization risk—an appealing trait for a carbon-constrained future.
From Desert to the Sea
What sets China’s program apart is its ambition to commercialize the technology in maritime applications. Officials have announced plans to install thorium MSRs in container ships, aiming to slash emissions from one of the dirtiest sectors of global transport. According to South China Morning Post, this could reduce emissions by more than 80 tons per ship annually, accelerating China’s clean shipping goals.
If proven scalable and economically viable, thorium MSRs could disrupt not only terrestrial power but the global logistics sector.
Strategic Implications
This development also underscores the enduring strategic value of scientific transparency. Much of the technical foundation came from 1960s-era U.S. research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory—now declassified and publicly accessible. As China reaps the rewards, some experts are urging renewed U.S. investment in next-gen nuclear, especially as geopolitical competition over green tech accelerates.
Whether thorium MSRs become the norm or remain a niche technology, China’s achievement marks a turning point—both in energy innovation and in the long arc of nuclear history.
