The BRICS TimesMajor Nuclear Feat Achieved: China’s Groundbreaking Thorium-to-Uranium Fuel Conversion Triggers Market Excitement.
China’s Nuclear Fuel Breakthrough
Chinese researchers successfully completed a major nuclear feat. They achieved the world’s first thorium to uranium fuel conversion in a molten-salt reactor. This reactor is now the only one of its kind operating globally. It is currently fueled with thorium material. The news instantly lifted the shares of various project equipment suppliers.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) built the reactor. This work happened with other groups in Gansu province. SINAP confirmed the successful technical use of thorium on November 1. This happened within a molten-salt nuclear system.
A Sustainable Alternative to Uranium
The global nuclear power industry mostly uses uranium-235 as fuel. However, its natural reserves are quite limited. China particularly lacks domestic uranium resources. This forces high dependence on fuel imports. Demand is rapidly increasing with industry growth. To solve this, researchers focused on the Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR). TMSRs can convert plentiful thorium-232 into uranium-233. This happens by absorbing neutrons. SINAP noted this creates a sustainable nuclear fuel source.
Supplier Stocks Soar on News
Following the major announcement, certain stocks gained significantly. Nanjing Baose, which supplies main reactor vessels, surged. Its shares hit the 20 percent daily trading limit today. This was on the Shenzhen ChiNext bourse. The stock reached CNY26.21 ($3.68) by 10.30 a.m. yesterday it also closed up 20 percent.
Suzhou Hailu Heavy Industry provides TMSR safety devices. Its shares rose by the 10 percent daily limit to CNY10.80. Zhefu Holding Group supplies nuclear reactor control rods. Its stock climbed 1.6 percent to CNY4.59 (64 US cents). Both these firms closed 10 percent higher yesterday.
The Advanced Reactor Technology
Molten-salt reactors represent a fourth-generation system. They use hot molten salt as a coolant. They feature inherent safety, requiring no water to cool. They also operate at atmospheric pressure. The output delivers high-temperature heat, SINAP explained. These unique qualities make them ideal for using thorium resources. They are perfectly suited for nuclear energy production, SINAP highlighted.
The two-megawatt experimental TMSR began in 2011. It progressed from lab research to engineering verification. This included core materials and technologies. The ultimate plan is a 100 MW demonstration project. Its application should be fully realized by 2035.
