China takes another step towards global supremacy: Thorium

[Louis VI the Fat]

The only geopolitical issue of this century is China's rise to power. Everything else is a mere footnote. The entire last decade, from 9-11 to Iraq to the expansion of the EU are irrelevancies, completely dwarved by the largest scale event in world history.


I don't know the frst thing about Thorium. My main thought is that it was probably named by one of those typical Germanic racists of the century before 1945. Who happened to dominate physics and chemistry in this era, those formative years for both fields, with an explosion of new discoveries, and so left a legacy of that Germanic mix of lunacy and brilliance in the very names, the very language, in these fields.

Just like everything in Africa is named Victoria, a historical peculiarity with good timing can leave its trace forever.

[Husar]

I don't know the frst thing about Thorium. My main thought is that it was probably named by one of those typical Germanic racists of the century before 1945. Who happened to dominate physics and chemistry in this era, those formative years for both fields, with an explosion of new discoveries, and so left a legacy of that Germanic mix of lunacy and brilliance in the very names, the very language, in these fields.

Just like everything in Africa is named Victoria,

It's a nice name.

Concerning the thorium reactors, I wonder why Germany isn't in on that, the whole discussion here seems focused on shifting from nuclear to renewables, I wonder what the greens would say about thorium reactors. Don't really mind China taking a lead in that though.

[Jaguara]

I wonder if they will do any better with it than we did...

Funny though, all those people in the Cold War who feared the invasion of the Red Chinese. They don't have to fight us, just sit back quietly and wait for us to burn ourselves out.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Because our nations are populated by hordes of ignorant masses who cringe in fear at the mention of "nuclear power", and there are a tireless minority who will exploit this and every legal avenue available to stop development of any new nuclear plants - at least in the US.

And these nations are 'led' by enthusiastically ignorant politicians who put playing politics with issues and getting reelected ahead of objective assessment of what they should support.

The last oil refinery built in the US was over 34 years ago. A whole generation past, because of legal and political opposition by politicians and environmentalists.

Nuclear has those issues and the big scare about meltdowns. All nuclear plants in the US started construction before 1975 - one is still being constructed.

CR

[Raz]

Technological development to supersede an older industry would take ages. 10-20 years at least before they could have full thorium-plant power creation.
Good technology. If they crack thorium's usage before anyone else, then selling that technology will be the most lucrative thing China has ever created.

Still it's disconcerting to think that our (Australia's) largest export partner will soon perhaps have little need of our LNG and coal, and our $85 billion AUD market will grind mostly to a halt. Silly Australia.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Sooner or later the world will realize how critical thorium reactors and nuclear power in general is for the future of energy. Once the world switches over, we can again have cheap energy fueling otherwise more cost prohibitive endeavors.

[Sigurd]

CERN has been trying to get funding for a Thorium prototype. It is based on Carlo Rubbias' design (molten lead). The big EU nations has said no, but there are a few scientists in CERN hoping to get Norway to fund it all. If Norway says yes, they will drop everything and get a prototype up and running, saying it will take no more than 4 - 5 years getting one into production.
They have been actively lobbying since 2003, but their patience ran dry in 2007 and are no longer pushing for this.
After Oil - Thorium reactors should be the next adventure for us as we have the 4th largest deposit of Thorium.

[rory_20_uk]

Technological development to supersede an older industry would take ages. 10-20 years at least before they could have full thorium-plant power creation.
Good technology. If they crack thorium's usage before anyone else, then selling that technology will be the most lucrative thing China has ever created.

Still it's disconcerting to think that our (Australia's) largest export partner will soon perhaps have little need of our LNG and coal, and our $85 billion AUD market will grind mostly to a halt. Silly Australia.

Even if Thorium reactors could be created tomorrow, it'd be at least a decade before they were constructed. And as the standard of living of China increases their energy requirements are going to increase for the forseeable future - efficiencies are only going to take the edge of requirements.

Selling fuel isn't oging to be a problem.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Once the West and China moves onto to nuclear, the fossil fuels will be sold to the third world who still need them.