China achieves 1st thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in molten salt reactor

"Over 90 percent of the reactor's components are domestically produced, with 100 percent localization of key parts and a fully independent supply chain. This achievement marks the initial establishment of an industrial ecosystem for thorium molten salt reactor technologies in China," he added.

Dai said: "The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics will collaborate with leading energy enterprises, including the State Power Investment Corporation, to build a comprehensive industrial and supply chain ecosystem for the thorium molten salt reactors."

"Our goal is to complete the construction and demonstration of a 100-MWt prototype by 2035 and realize commercial-scale application. This will accelerate technological innovation and engineering transformation, ultimately providing China with a safe, reliable and domestically controlled thorium-based energy generation solution," Dai added.