China has activated the world’s only operational thorium molten salt reactor, marking a milestone in clean nuclear energy development. Located in the Gobi Desert, the 2-megawatt experimental reactor is the product of years of research built upon declassified American studies from the 1960s.
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed that the reactor achieved full power in June 2024 and recently completed a successful in-operation fuel reload—without halting operations. Project leader Xu Hongjie said this demonstrates China’s lead in the global race for next-generation nuclear energy.
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Thorium is a safer and more abundant alternative to uranium. It produces less long-term radioactive waste and is less suitable for weaponisation. The molten salt design also enhances safety, operating at atmospheric pressure with built-in overheating safeguards.
The breakthrough is part of China’s broader energy diversification strategy. A larger 10-megawatt thorium reactor is expected by 2030, with future applications including thorium-powered cargo ships to cut emissions in maritime trade.
Xu called the development “the hardest path, but the right one,” noting its alignment with a historic date in China’s nuclear history.
