October 17, 2014
New Thorium Reserves Discovered
Today, the government of Zunkwentania has announced that it has discovered a substantial amount of thorium in the Aso Mane Valley. Thorium currently makes up a large portion of the Zunkwentanian power supply, so electricity prices are expected to lower soon. The element is a radioactive mineral that can be used in liquid-flouride thorium reactors to provide energy, while producing far less radioactive waste than uranium. It also is fairly reliable, which is why a large number of natural gas plants were replaced in the 1990's. Thorium is found in other minerals; the mineral found in Aso Mane is monazite, a fairly high thorium concentration mineral. For now, the price of it is NS$21,342 per Kilogram. The government also announced its intention to partner with and sell to other nations. "This newly found thorium reserve could help grow the Zunkwentanian energy sector into an energy exporting pillar, if we sell it and partner with other nations," declared Claude Tremintia, Minister of Commerce. Domestically, companies such as Ilir Mining and Cherma Energy have announced their intentions to capitalize on this.