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We Must Hurry: China Is Developing Next-Generation Thorium Molten Salt Reactors
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With the situation in Iran remaining unstable, Japan's energy situation, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude oil, is in a very difficult state. In this context, nuclear power is being re-evaluated.
However, current nuclear power still has many uncertainties, such as the lack of a final disposal site for nuclear waste. Therefore, research into next-generation reactors is progressing. For example, there are fusion reactors, but the one I have been particularly interested in is the "thorium molten salt reactor."
A thorium molten salt reactor is a reactor that uses thorium, which has an atomic number one less than uranium, as fuel. Thorium is dissolved in a salt, and this salt is heated to a high temperature of 700-800°C and circulated within the reactor. This heat is transferred to the cooling water to create steam, which rotates a turbine to generate electricity.
As the name "molten salt reactor" suggests, the fuel is molten, making it a liquid fuel. In the case of uranium, solid fuel is formed into pellets and burned in the core, making the mechanism very complex. On the other hand, the thorium molten salt reactor, which circulates molten fuel, has a simpler structure. This is why it's attracting attention.
In Japan, this development is not progressing very well. Meanwhile, China has even built an experimental reactor and achieved results. Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese news organization, reported, "China succeeds in converting nuclear fuel in a thorium molten salt reactor, a world first."
https://jp.news.cn/20251104/f6c77b2bb...
This experimental reactor has an output of 2MW, or 2,000kW. Compared to the average Japanese reactor, which is about 1 million kW, this is considerably smaller. Nevertheless, the important thing is that it is actually operating. In China, these experiments are steadily progressing and yielding results.
So why isn't research on thorium molten salt reactors progressing in Japan? The mainstream of nuclear reactors in Japan is light water reactors. Research into producing plutonium through uranium fission and then reprocessing that plutonium for reuse as fuel has been ongoing for many years. Japan has not been able to break away from this path.
Furthermore, in thorium molten salt reactors, the fuel circulates within the reactor, raising challenges such as maintenance of circulation pumps and piping. For these and other reasons, Japan has been reluctant to pursue this technology.
On the other hand, China is advancing its research without being constrained by these challenges and is achieving results. If successful, China will acquire a highly advanced nuclear reactor. While other countries, such as Canada, are also conducting research, Japan is truly lagging behind.
If Japan is to be a country that thrives on technology, I strongly believe that it should advance research into next-generation nuclear energy, achieve results, and lead the world.
Various research papers on thorium molten salt reactors have been published. I hope you will all take the time to learn about them.
Blog:
https://www.ogasawara-church.jp/blog/...
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