Current Affairs - International - Discussion

China has achieved a historic milestone by successfully performing thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion within its Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR), making it the first country in the world to do so. This breakthrough, announced on November 3, 2025, represents a major advancement in fourth-generation nuclear technology, offering safer, cleaner, and more efficient energy generation. The reactor converts thorium-232 into fissile uranium-233, enabling a sustainable thorium fuel cycle. With this success, China has demonstrated the viability of molten salt reactors and taken a leading position in the race for advanced nuclear innovation, complementing India’s ongoing thorium-based research initiatives.