Beijing wants thorium reactors 10 years early

China has moved forward the deadline to develop the world’s first commercial thorium nuclear reactor by 15 years, South China Morning Post reported, citing a scientist at an advanced research center in Shanghai set up by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in January for the project. The team of scientists had originally been given 25 years to try to develop a nuclear plant using the radioactive element thorium as fuel rather than uranium, but they have now been told they have 10. The central government is trying to curb the nation’s reliance on smog-producing coal-fired plants.