Nuclear Regulatory Commission Construction Permit Issuance Expected in September for King & Spalding client Natura Resource’s Molten Salt Reactor to be deployed at ACU

King & Spalding advises Natura Resources on the development of its first-of-kind molten salt reactor (MSR-1) and its first deployment on the campus of Abilene Christian University (ACU). ACU’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab application for the construction permit with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for building this state-of the-art MSR-1 is the first for a new research reactor in more than 30 years and the first-ever for an advanced university research reactor. Natura Resources has invested over $50 million in research funding with ACU, Georgia Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin, in these efforts.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has now announced that it will complete the safety assessment and construction permit issuance by September 30, 2024, for Natura Resources’ MSR-1 system to be located at ACU. With the successful licensure of the Natura MSR-1 system and construction of the reactor at ACU, Natura will be able to gain operational data that will allow Natura to safely and efficiently design and deploy its commercial systems.

King & Spalding has advised Natura Resources every step of the way in this process, including drafting the Sponsored Research Agreements with each of the four universities, managing all intellectual property related issues, construction, corporate agreements, funding opportunities and export controls.

The King & Spalding team includes Jill McWhirter, Laura Bushnell, Sam Choy, Kevin Duffy, Baylie Evans, Micheal Fishel, Scott Greer, Allison Harrell, Laura Huffman, John Hyman, Nikesh Jindal, Sophia Luckeneder, Bob Neufeld, Michael Nunnally, Rahul Patel, Danielle Pressler, Austin Sanders, Christine Savage, Sean Sheehy, Michelle Stewart, Jessica Stricklin, John Talansky, Paige Tenkhoff, Stephanie Yarborough, and Aaron Zu.

For more information, please see the press release by clicking here.