China has uncovered an extraordinary resource that could sustain its energy needs forever. A national geological survey has confirmed that the country possesses vast reserves of thorium, a rare radioactive metal with the potential to revolutionize global energy production. According to the South China Morning Post, experts believe thorium could significantly reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. While China was already known to have substantial thorium deposits, a classified 2020 survey suggests that these reserves may be far more extensive than previously estimated.
Massive Thorium Deposits in Inner Mongolia
A recent study published in the Chinese journal Geological Review in January reported that just five years’ worth of mining waste from an iron ore site in Inner Mongolia contains enough thorium to meet the United States’ energy requirements for over 1,000 years. Interestingly, India also boasts vast thorium reserves. In fact, reports indicate that India has the world’s largest thorium deposits, and the country’s Department of Atomic Energy is actively exploring thorium as a sustainable long-term energy alternative.
Thorium’s Potential to Power China for Thousands of Years
Some experts estimate that if fully exploited, the Bayan Obo mining complex alone could yield one million tonnes of thorium—enough to supply China’s energy needs for an astonishing 60,000 years. “It turns out that an infinite energy source has been lying right beneath our feet,” a Beijing-based geologist told the South China Morning Post under conditions of anonymity.
What is Thorium?
Thorium is a silver-colored metal named after the Norse god Thor. It possesses 200 times the energy potential of uranium. Unlike conventional uranium reactors, thorium molten-salt reactors (TMSRs) are smaller, safer, and do not require water cooling. Additionally, they produce significantly less radioactive waste, making them an environmentally friendlier alternative.
China’s Thorium Reactor Initiative
In a groundbreaking move, China approved the construction of the world’s first thorium molten-salt reactor in the Gobi Desert last year. This pilot project, designed to generate 10 megawatts of electricity, is expected to become operational by 2029. If successful, this development could pave the way for a global shift towards cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.
