The brief

Analyst view

• Natura secured $240M in total funding: $120M private and $120M from Texas via appropriation.
• MSR-1 at Abilene Christian University received its NRC construction permit, a first for liquid-fueled reactors in the U.S.
• Natura is partnering with NOV to deploy gigawatts of SMRs for data centers and industry between 2029 and 2032.

Technical approach

As reported

Fuel

Dissolved uranium in molten salt

Fuel is mixed directly into the coolant salt, eliminating the need for solid fuel assemblies. This design simplifies construction and maintenance.

Heat

High-temperature operation

At 585°C, the reactor supplies high-temperature heat for hydrogen production, desalination and materials processing beyond electricity generation.

Fluids

FLiBE salt chemistry

Lithium and beryllium fluoride coolant from the DOE is chemically stable and avoids steam-explosion risks.