But it occurs to me that one of the effects of the adoption of thorium technology would be to make a series of other metals, like tantalum and the rare earths, rather cheaper.

FORBES: An Odd Thought: Thorium Reactors Would Make Tantalum And Rare Earths Cheaper

In 2009 Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian mining firm, withdrew from a deal to sell a series of minority stakes to Chinalco, a Chinese metals firm.

ECONOMIST: What it feels like to be bought by a Chinese firm