Think thorium: Our expert panel answers your questions on thoriumfuelled fission reactors

摘要

Thorium is increasingly being promoted as an alternative fuel to uranium in civil nuclear fission reactors. Proponents argue it's safer, more abundant and much harder to weaponise. But the most significant development of thorium-fuelled reactors at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US was cancelled in the 1970s and the technology would need large amounts of investment to continue readying it for commercial use.