China has discovered limitless energetic ressource

China has discovered a vast reserve of thorium, a silvery metal found in the Earth’s crust, which could dramatically reshape the country's energy landscape.

A recent national survey revealed thorium deposits far greater than previously predicted, with reserves spread across 233 locations nationwide — from Xinjiang to Guangdong. The largest site, located in Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia, is estimated to contain around one million tons of thorium, potentially enough to power the country for tens of thousands of years.

Thorium can be converted into uranium-233 when processed in molten salt reactors, a next-generation technology that significantly reduces radioactive waste compared to traditional nuclear methods.

Recognizing its potential, Beijing has already ordered the construction of the world’s first molten salt reactor plant, which is set to be built in the Gobi Desert.

In addition, China plans to expand its nuclear energy capacity by building 24 new nuclear power facilities by 2030, solidifying its ambitions to lead in clean and sustainable energy innovation.

(QG - Source: South China Morning Post  — Picture : © Unsplash)