4d ago

China has world’s first operational thorium nuclear reactor thanks to ‘strategic stamina’

www.scmp.com

‘No quick wins’: China has the world’s first operational thorium nuclear reactor

It marks the first long-term, stable operation of the technology, putting China at the forefront of a global race to harness thorium – considered a safer and more abundant alternative to uranium – for nuclear power.

The experimental reactor, located in the Gobi Desert in China’s west, uses molten salt as the fuel carrier and coolant, and thorium – a radioactive element abundant in the Earth’s crust – as the fuel source. The reactor is reportedly designed to sustainably generate 2 megawatts of thermal power.

246 comments

Well, that and lack of diligently enforced safety standards.
- The government agencies that enforce those standards have been gutted in the US. So. Next point?
  I will assume you are European and the above point does not apply as sharply to you, but western empire decay and corruption is slowing eating away all of your criticisms of China.
  But freedom of expression! How is that going for you?
  But communism! How is capitalism going for the average citizen?
  Anyway.
  This is an amazing breakthrough, the citizens of China are lucky to have a government that seems to care about the well-being of their citizens and plan for the future. For some reason, westerners cannot accept good news from China without feeling that the world is a zero sum game. It's not, Chinese citizens have a brighter future than us in the west because we have allowed corporations to purchase our governments at wholesale prices.
  China is not to blame, well done to China.
  
  This technological breakthrough is amazing, yes, but does not make disappear the constant harassment of minorities, the lack of freedom, the labor camps, the violent repression in Hong-Kong and all the other freaking shit China does on a daily basis.
  And thanks for asking about the freedom of expression in Europe, it's going really fine.
  
  Constant harassment of minorities, lack of freedom, labor camps (El Salvador), violent repression (coming soon). But enough about the United States. Will neoliberalism reach you next?
  
  You do agree that America Bad, don't you?
  Say The Thing.
  
  Of course it's bad. It's awful. Only a complete moron would think the opposite.
  
  Thank you
  
  And you agree that Germany is bad, right? Say the thing
  
  Do you do this for your own country and its allies, insist that every issue with it is brought up every time it's mentioned regardless of context, or do you reserve it for the countries that are your countries enemies?
  Also, try anti-genocide protestors in Germany that freedom of expression is going fine, lol.
  
  I’m not a patriot. I dont give a shit about my own country. If France is does positive things, good, but it doesn’t I’m going to ignore that our politicians are corrupt or that the Olympics were used to enforce mass surveillance and lock up climate activists.

246 comments