According to a declassified report, which describes in detail the studies completed in 2020, Chinese track reserves, which scientists have long been taking attention, as potential nuclear fuel, can actually be much greater than initially estimated, says South China Morning Post.
The track deposits were discovered in the Bayan OBO mining complex in the autonomous region of internal Mongolia in northern China. According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), if the Bayan NIED mining complex were fully exploited, he could extract 1 million tons of the track. This, according to scientists’ estimates, It would be enough to supply China with electricity at 60,000. years.
The deposit at Bayan OBO is not the only place rich in this radioactive metal. According to research in China there are at least 233 seats rich in track, which so far are not in any way exploited.
This means that The actual track resources in China can be several rows of size greater than previously estimated – A report published in January 2025 was given in the journal Geological Review, which is referred to by South China Morning Post.
Track reactors will replace classic uranium powered power plants?
The track is a radioactive metal that is more effective fuel than uranium. Reactors powered by track achieved fuel consumption efficiency at 50 percent, while in modern reactors, where the fuel is enriched with uranium, achieve efficiency of 4-5 percent.
In the Gobi desert, the Chinese are building the world’s first reactor using the track and melted salts (TMSR). The Chinese Academy of Sciences has been working on the development of this technology since 2011.
Advantages and disadvantages of track reactors
One of the advantages that the reactors are powered by the track is, already mentioned in them inmore efficiency. However, this is not the only advantage of this technology over uranium reactors. It is by rail less risk of failure, Especially in the case of reactors cooled with melted salts. In addition, track reactors produce waste with a shorter half -life, which Facilitates and manage radioactive waste. Another advantage of the track is his availability. This unique element occurs six times more often than uranium.
Unfortunately, this technology also has its disadvantages, which are, however, to overcome. As it turns out, mining and The processing of track deposits is complicated and requires a lot of energy.
Source: South China Morning Post
