DOE delivers enriched FLiBE coolant salt to Natura for MSR-1 startup

Natura Resources/MSR-1

The Department of Energy delivered enriched FLiBe salt (lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride) to Natura Resources for the MSR-1 reactor on September 18, 2026. The 4,700-pound shipment originated from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where the same salt cooled the historic Molten Salt Reactor Experiment. This enables MSR-1 to reach criticality.

• FLiBe is 99.99% enriched in lithium-7, a rare material produced only by the government.
• The salt was repurposed from Cold War-era government nuclear research.
• Delivery clears the way for MSR-1 to begin operation.