Department of Energy Provides Rare Salt Material to Natura Resources

Natura plans to use the historic material in its MSR-1, a liquid-fueled molten salt research reactor under development at Abilene Christian University. The project is on track to become one of the first fueled fluoride salt molten salt reactor demonstrations in the United States since the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment.

By putting this unique government-owned resource back into service, DOE is connecting decades of American nuclear research with private-sector innovation to help advance the next generation of nuclear reactors.

DOE's Reactor Pilot Program leverages DOE authorization to rapidly certify and construct first-of-a-kind advanced reactor designs for testing. It made history this summer when four participating reactor prototypes successfully reached criticality by July 4, 2026, exceeding President Trump's goal and setting the tone for the American nuclear energy renaissance.