Author: PPD Team Date: 03/03/2025
A national survey suggests China’s thorium reserves may be far larger than estimated, potentially transforming global energy production.
A recently declassified report details findings from a survey that concluded in 2020, indicating that China’s thorium reserves, already the largest in the world, may be far greater than previously estimated. Mining waste from just five years of operations at an iron ore site in Inner Mongolia contains enough thorium to meet the energy demands of US households for over 1,000 years, according to the report published in Geological Review in January. Scientists estimate the Bayan Obo mining complex alone could yield 1 million tonnes—enough to power China for 60,000 years.
Thorium generates 200 times more energy than uranium. Thorium molten salt reactors (TMSRs) are compact, meltdown-resistant, require no water cooling, and produce minimal radioactive waste. China is already advancing thorium technology, with the world’s first TMSR power plant under construction in the Gobi Desert. The 10-megawatt pilot project is expected to be operational by 2029.
The survey, led by senior engineer Fan Honghai, identified 233 thorium-rich zones across China, concentrated in five belts from Xinjiang to Guangdong. These zones contain magmatic and hydrothermal deposits linked to rare earth elements. Fujian and Hainan have thorium-rich coastal sands, while Bayan Obo’s mining tailings hold untapped reserves.
Challenges remain. Extracting thorium from rare earth ores requires significant acid and energy use, generating large amounts of wastewater. There are also concerns about weaponisation, though some experts argue thorium by-products are unsuitable for nuclear weapons.
China’s thorium push aligns with its broader nuclear ambitions, including the KUN-24AP, the world’s first thorium-powered nuclear container ship design, and proposed lunar reactors. While China’s reserves hold vast potential, their exact size remains classified.
Public discourse reveals skepticism. Critics note that thorium is abundant worldwide but question its economic viability, citing decades of stalled projects in other nations. “Having the resource isn’t enough—the real test is delivering affordable, scalable power,” remarked one analyst, pointing out that uranium remains cheaper and entrenched in existing infrastructure. Others emphasize China’s unique position, holding thousands of patents in thorium tech, which could grant it a stranglehold on supply chains if commercialization succeeds.
As the 2029 TMSR deadline approaches, the world watches to see if this elusive element can transition from theoretical promise to planet-saving reality.