China converts thorium into uranium fuel in world-first molten salt reactor

China has announced a breakthrough in nuclear technology, successfully converting thorium into uranium fuel inside a working molten salt reactor (MSR). The achievement confirms that thorium, a metal several times more abundant than uranium, can be transformed into usable fuel within an operational system.

The development gives China a lead in next-generation nuclear power. Its MSR has shown that thorium can be bred into uranium-233, a fissile isotope capable of sustaining a chain reaction. Unlike uranium-235 or plutonium-239, thorium is more abundant, produces less waste, and carries lower proliferation risks.

By proving thorium’s viability, China can tap into domestic reserves in Inner Mongolia and Sichuan, reducing its dependence on imported uranium.

The success also shifts global nuclear dynamics. India and Russia have researched thorium-based systems for decades, but have yet to operationalise them. China’s early lead could help it commercialise and export thorium reactors, expanding its influence across emerging markets.

For India, the milestone highlights the unfinished goals of its three-stage nuclear programme, designed by Homi J. Bhabha to eventually use thorium as fuel.