China Plans to Build World’s First Waterless Nuclear Reactor

• 28 July 2021
• Construction Focus
• 2644 Views

Chinese researchers have unveiled the world’s first thorium-fuelled commercial reactor that will not require water for cooling. This demonstrates a big breakthrough in the Chinese power sector, which today is dependent on coal-fired power plants.

Named the Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, the project was begun in 2011. To date, researchers are in the stage of building a 2MW prototype, which is set to be completed in August, according to the South China Morning Post.

As the reactor would not need to be built near water, it could be deployed in the deserts and plains of central and western China.

Run by thorium molten salt, replacing uranium or plutonium, the reactor can run at temperatures as high as 1,000°C.

The first commercial version, with a power of about 100MW, is due to enter service in 2030

• Technology and Engineering
• Energy and Environment