Oklo to Advance Groves-2 Forge as Part of U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Selection

• U.S. Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center picks 12 developers on 13 new projects to take part in the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative.
• Oklo plans to build on the rapid deployment of the Groves Isotope Test Reactor in Texas with Groves-2 Forge, an isotope production and processing pilot facility.
• Groves-2 Forge to initially focus on producing lutetium-177, an isotope used in targeted cancer treatments.
• Oklo plans to transition Groves-2 Forge from pilot operations to commercial-scale isotope production with the appropriate U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses for commercial operation.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) (“Oklo” or “the Company”), an advanced nuclear technology company, today announced it would advance the Groves isotope production facility (Groves-2 Forge) as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative. Through the initiative, Oklo’s Groves-2 Forge will build on the demonstration experience from Oklo’s Groves Isotope Test Reactor while including capabilities to produce, process, and purify critical isotopes.

Groves-2 Forge is planned to integrate historical fragmented parts of the isotope value chain, specifically reactor irradiation with hot-cell processing capabilities, including isotope separation, product recovery, packaging, and transportation. Its focus will be on lutetium-177 and other therapeutic isotopes for use in manufacturing radiopharmaceutical treatments.

DOE and NRIC selected 12 developers across 13 projects to take part in the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative which builds on the momentum of DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program (RPP) and offers a streamlined pathway for domestic reactor development and nuclear fuel cycle advancements. Under DOE authorization and as part of the RPP, Oklo brought the Groves Isotope Test Reactor from greenfield to criticality in less than a year, the first RPP project to do so on private land.

“Groves showed how quickly a new reactor could be built and brought to criticality through close collaboration between the private sector and DOE,” said Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. “Groves-2 Forge will build directly on that foundation by adding the capabilities needed to irradiate target materials and process and prepare valuable isotopes.”

Through the Launch Pad initiative, Oklo plans to integrate isotope irradiation and processing capabilities at Groves-2 Forge, prepare isotope products and generate operating experience needed to support a transition to commercial-scale isotope production with the appropriate licenses.

“Oklo’s experience with the Groves Isotope Test Reactor under DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program demonstrates how private developers can advance nuclear projects forward safely and efficiently under DOE authorization,” said Chimi Zacot, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors. “Through the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, we look forward to supporting Oklo as it builds on that progress with Groves-2 and advances integrated isotope production and processing capabilities.”

Many critical isotopes used in cancer treatment, industrial inspection, scientific research, space exploration and national security are currently supplied through aging or foreign facilities, while short-lived medical isotopes can lose useful activity during transportation. Oklo’s work at Groves and Groves-2 aims to expand U.S. production and processing capacity to reduce supply chain risk, bring production close to customers, and support growing demand for isotopes across essential industries.

About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, affordable energy at global scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical isotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert used nuclear fuel into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.