US approves advanced nuclear fuel facility for Oklo’s first reactor

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho Operations Office has approved the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement (NSDA) for Oklo’s Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility (A3F), marking a significant milestone in the company’s plan to develop advanced nuclear technology. Located at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the A3F will produce fuel for Oklo’s first commercial-scale reactor, Aurora-INL, which is also part of the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program. By co-locating fuel fabrication and reactor operation, Oklo aims to create an integrated system that accelerates the commercial deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies in the US. This approval utilizes a modernized DOE authorization process designed for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects, offering a streamlined and faster pathway for advanced reactor developers to validate their technologies before seeking full commercial licensing from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NSDA approval, granted in under two weeks, is the first under the DOE’s new Fuel Line Pilot Projects