China has achieved a world first by converting thorium into uranium fuel in a molten salt reactor, marking a milestone in nuclear energy research.
Thorium is not new. It has been explored as a source of nuclear fuel in the past by several countries, but this was eventually shelved for various reasons.
Interest is now returning as countries search for safer and more sustainable nuclear options. Thorium is more abundant than uranium and widely distributed in nature. A single ton could, in theory, generate as much energy as hundreds of tons of uranium. It also produces less long-lived radioactive waste and offers greater inherent safety when used in molten salt reactors, which operate at lower pressure and reduce the risk of severe accidents.
For China, which imports more than 80% of its uranium supply, thorium could help break that dependence and strengthen long-term energy security. While it is not yet ready for commercial deployment, the successful thorium-uranium conversion demonstrates its feasibility and provides a working platform to explore thorium’s role in future stable, low-carbon energy systems — from inland power generation to ships capable of sailing for ten years on a single refill.
See: ThinkChina Sg, Dec 26, 2025. https://youtu.be/FgC9j1P7lDI
China Environment News 