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The Largest Thorium Mine on the Planet Was Discovered by China and Could Provide Energy for Ages, While the World Prepares for a New Silent and Strategic Technological Race Involving Rare Resources, Chips, Geopolitics, and Artificial Intelligence.
During his participation in the Flow Podcast, geophysicist and science communicator Sérgio Sacani raised a strategic discussion that is moving the behind-the-scenes of global geopolitics and technology: the race for rare earths.
According to him, this is the new silent battleground between global powers, mainly between China and the United States.
“An article came out in Scientific American last week saying that rare earths are the new oil,” Sacani explained, highlighting how these elements have become strategic.
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These substances, which include thorium, lanthanum, cobalt, and lithium itself, are essential for the functioning of modern technologies, such as electric cars, chips, batteries, and other electronic components.
The Thorium Mine That Changes Everything
However, the most surprising point of the conversation was a revelation that Sacani made with special emphasis: China recently discovered the largest thorium mine on the planet — with such a large volume that, according to Chinese scientists, it would be sufficient to supply the country for an incredible 60 million years.
“It’s an absurd volume, man,” commented the scientist.
“They said it can feed China for 60 million years. That’s a lot. Really a lot.”
This discovery puts China in a position of colossal advantage in the future technological and energy landscape, as thorium is a promising alternative to uranium as a nuclear fuel and could revolutionize energy production.
“Today no one cared about these elements. But now, they are the most important things that exist”, observed Sacani, comparing the rise of rare earths to a “nerd at the back of the classroom” who, ignored by everyone, becomes the protagonist at a crucial moment.
The Power of Rare Earths
Rare earths make up a group of chemical elements that are present in reduced quantities in nature, but are essential for the production of modern technological equipment.
The problem is that their extraction and processing are complex and environmentally sensitive, which further increases their geopolitical relevance.
Brazil is also part of this strategic map.
According to Sacani, some of these elements are present in the Amazon, which could put the country on the radar of world powers seeking energy and technological autonomy.
“A large part of these elements is in the Amazon. And on the Moon too,” he added, reinforcing that extraterrestrial resources also factor into the next technological steps for humanity.
The Silent War Between China and the USA
During the conversation, Sacani also commented on China’s recent decision to restrict the export of rare earths to the United States.
“She said: ‘I won’t deliver rare earths to the Americans anymore’. Then it got serious, man,” he vented, warning of the possible consequences of this move.
The measure increases pressure on the US, which heavily relies on Chinese supplies to keep its technology industry running.
In response, former US President Donald Trump stated in the Financial Times that he would seek new sources in the Pacific Ocean, which is also rich in rare earths — although extraction there is quite challenging.
“He said: ‘No problem. I’ll explore in the Pacific anyway’,” Sacani reported, illustrating how the race for these resources has become a new Cold War, an economic and technological war.
“Today’s war is not with guns, it’s with technology, economy, chips, information,” affirmed the geophysicist.
For him, this global movement will further accelerate cycles of innovation and disruption.
“What used to take 20 years to happen now happens in two. Or even less.”
The Future of Humanity Will Be Shaped by Technology
The scientist also highlighted how this technological advance is already impacting people’s daily lives.
“It’s very likely that our daughters will never drive a car. They will have a robot at home doing everything,” he said, mentioning technologies like Neuralink and artificial intelligence as catalysts for profound social transformations.
Sacani mentioned that he closely followed the evolution of AI, from the first tests with ChatGPT 3.5, when the model still needed manual adjustments to avoid hallucinations — jargon used to describe when AI starts generating unfounded information.
“That was two and a half years ago. Look where we are today,” he said, highlighting how technology has become more precise and popular in a short span of time.
“What I hope is that these technologies begin to solve real problems. We have many problems in Brazil, and we can accelerate solutions with everything that is emerging.”
The New Oil of the 21st Century
Sacani’s speech makes it clear that, more than a mere scientific curiosity, the discovery of the thorium mine in China represents a profound shift in the global balance of power.
In times of energy transition and technological dependence, having strategic resources is like having the oil of the 21st century.
And with supply sufficient for 60 million years, China has just delivered a geological checkmate on the world stage.
Could the discovery of rare earths turn China into the largest global power of the coming centuries?
O Trump, segundo a reportagem é ex-presidente.