The government didn't say "give us the one we can make bombs with" or anything like that. In a review [1] they discuss groups working on thorium reactors who fi

The government didn't say "give us the one we can make bombs with" or anything like that. In a review [1] they discuss groups working on thorium reactors who find that these reactors are potentially cheaper than water cooled reactors, but there are uncertainties and a demonstration plant is needed. They basically state that thorium reactors might work well, but their potential benefits don't outweigh the existing industrial commitments. Sure, the reason for the existing infrastructure was for the ability to more easily make bombs. But when this was reviewed, it was possible to make bombs with Thorium, too. [2] There are advantages and disadvantages to thorium over common reactors, but it's definitely not a magic bullet. [1]: WASH-1222 (p. 49) http://www.energyfromthorium.com/pdf/WASH-1222.pdf http://www.energyfromthorium.com/pdf/WASH-1222.pdf [2]: https://whatisnuclear.com/articles/thorium_myths.html https://whatisnuclear.com/articles/thorium_myths.html