The growing interest in molten salt reactor (MSR) technologies has led to increased collaboration between public and private sectors worldwide. At the international level, reactor technology is currently the main focus, with some attention given to safety and licensing. However, the importance of chemistry in fuel cycles cannot be overlooked, as recognized by members of the NEA Expert Group on Fuel Recycling and Waste Technology (EGFRW) and the IAEA Technical Working Group on Nuclear Fuel Cycle Options and Spent Fuel Management (TWG-NFCO).

To address the challenges of chemical processes and technologies in MSR fuel cycles, a joint workshop was organized by the NEA and IAEA in Vienna, Austria. Over 40 participants from 13 countries and the European Commission attended the event, including MSR developers, research and development organizations, regulators, and industry experts. The workshop’s program included several technical sessions on MSR concepts and nuclear fuel cycles, salt preparation, online and offline processing, cross-cutting issues such as irradiations monitoring operation irradiated fuel treatment material waste streams.

During working sessions, participants engaged in further discussion and collaborated to identify gaps and research needs in areas such as experimental underpinning irradiations monitoring operation irradiated fuel treatment material waste streams potential ways to address these issues were discussed making recommendations for future activities. The event confirmed that molten salt technologies are gaining worldwide attention emphasizing that international cooperation can bring valuable contributions to scientific communities MSR developers future user countries.