Natura and NGL Partner on Nuclear-Powered Produced Water Treatment in Permian
Event summary
- Natura Resources and NGL Water Solutions Permian signed an agreement to combine Natura's 100-megawatt molten-salt reactor with thermal desalination for produced water treatment in the Permian Basin.
- NGL handles over 3 million barrels per day of produced water in the region, while Natura aims to deploy its first commercial-scale reactor by 2029.
- The collaboration leverages NGL's expected TPDES permit to create a new water source for Texas industries, including data centers and agriculture.
The big picture
The partnership addresses a critical challenge in the Permian Basin—managing over 20 million barrels of produced water daily—by combining nuclear energy with desalination. This aligns with broader trends toward sustainable industrial water use and energy security, particularly as Texas faces growing demands for both power and clean water.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Approval
- Whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's timeline for advanced reactor deployments holds, with Natura's MSR-1 expected to be the first Gen IV reactor in the U.S.
- Commercial Viability
- The pace at which Natura can scale its molten-salt reactor technology to compete cost-effectively against natural gas and other clean energy sources.
- Industrial Adoption
- How quickly industries like data centers and agriculture integrate treated produced water into their operations, shaping demand for the collaboration's output.
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