China's ambition to 'revive' Cold War-era nuclear energy

(Baonghean.vn) - China is preparing to spend 22 billion yuan (equivalent to 3.3 billion USD) to perfect a form of technology, almost eliminated during the Cold War, which can produce a form of nuclear energy that is safer but has higher efficiency.

According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the project will use the above budget capital to invest in two "molten salt" nuclear reactors in the Gobi desert, Gansu province, northern China.

The nuclear facility being built in Gansu province could help develop warships powered by thorium, a safe form of nuclear energy. Photo: AP

The project, led by Jiang Mianheng, son of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, is expected to have the reactors operational by 2020. Researchers hope they can solve many technical problems to perfect the technology with many applications, including in nuclear-powered warships and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In theory, molten salt technology could produce more heat and power than current uranium reactors, while producing 1,000 times less radioactive waste.

Previously in the 1950s, the US Air Force built a 2.5 MW nuclear reactor using molten salt technology as part of a program to develop nuclear-powered aircraft engines.

The picture shows the nuclear facility to be built. Photo: AP

Molten-salt reactors can reach temperatures of up to 800 degrees Celsius, nearly three times higher than commercial uranium-fueled reactors. In theory, the technology could allow bombers to fly at supersonic speeds for days on end.

However, the project was shelved in the 1970s due to difficulties in reducing the size and weight of the reactor, as well as safety concerns once it was fitted to an aircraft.

Another problem is leaks in piping and reactors caused during fission.

The US is currently looking to bring this technology back while Japan, Russia and France have also shown interest./.

Lan Ha

(According to SCMP)