Chinese scientists urged to develop new thorium nuclear reactors by 2024 PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 18 March, 2014, 11:42pm UPDATED : Wednesday, 19 March, 2014, 4:54am Stephen Chen \ Beijing wants to cut its reliance on coal-fired power. Photo: AP The deadline to develop a new design of nuclear power plant has been brought forward by 15 years as the central government tries to reduce the nation's reliance on smog-producing coal-fired power stations.A team of scientists in Shanghai had originally been given 25 years to try to develop the world's first nuclear plant using the radioactive element thorium as...