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China, U.S. Cooperation on Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor Is Set to Proceed; Can Help Resurrect Expiring U.S. R&D
4 February 2015
EIRNS —An article Feb. 2 in Fortune Magazine reports that the U.S. Department of Energy plans to sign a 10-year research and development agreement with China to collaborate on China’s program to build a demonstration molten-salt nuclear reactor, within the next decade. The new agreenent will build on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011. The Department’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory built and operated a small experimental molten salt reactor between 1965-1969, until the program was ended by the Nixon Administration. The Chinese, who have come across challenges that have delayed the project, are enlisting the expertise of U.S. nuclear scientists and engineers. China’s reactor design uses molten salt as a coolant. It can use thorium as a fuel, runs at a higher temperature than conventional nuclear plants, and is considered "meltdown-proof." According to Oak Ridge engineer, Jess Gehin, in this agreement the Chinese will be putting a "significant" amount of money into it." It is reportedly a $400 million project. "The Chinese," he said, "being relatively new to it, need technical support. If they follow through and build a test reactor, there’s a lot of useful information that we could get from that." It appears that the U.S. will not only be sending its fusion scientists to China to continue their research, but also U.S. experts in nuclear technology. Marsha Freeman |
