OREANDA-NEWS  China has created a thorium-based reactor designed for use on heavy vessels. This is reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper.

The new reactor will be powered by thorium, a more common and safer material than uranium. In this regard, it does not require the creation of complex cooling systems. SCMP journalists called such a reactor innovative and unique. The article notes that its successful implementation could lead to a revolution in commercial shipping.

The thorium reactor will generate 50 megawatts of energy. This is comparable to the power of the S6W reactor, which is installed on modern nuclear submarines US Navy Seawolf class. Due to its power and efficiency, heavy vessels based on a thorium reactor can travel for years without refueling.

The vessel being developed in China can carry 14,000 shipping containers. The design phase of the thorium reactor vessel is expected to be completed in 2026.

At the end of October, the authors of The National Interest (TNI) said that China deliberately does not disclose information about the capabilities of its nuclear arsenal, which could "scare the whole world."