Energy
Oklo Receives U.S. Department of Energy Startup Authorization for Groves Reactor, Clearing Way for Fuel Loading and First Criticality
LOCKHART, Texas, July 23, 2026--Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) ("Oklo"), an advanced nuclear technology company, today announced it received startup authorization for its Groves Isotope Test Reactor. This authorization, granted under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program, completes DOE’s authorization process and clears the way for fuel loading, startup testing, and reactor operations. Groves is a low-power test reactor designed to demonstrate reactor design, build, and operations, a
About this update from Oklo Inc.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) startup authorization allows Oklo to load nuclear fuel, conduct startup testing, and proceed toward first criticality. In just over 10 months, Oklo progressed from groundbreaking to receiving DOE startup authorization for its first reactor at the Groves site. During that period, Oklo built the reactor facility, established the operating organization, qualified personnel, implemented nuclear programs and procedures, procured fuel and major equipment from commercial suppliers, and completed the DOE authorization process. The Groves low-power test reactor will demonstrate reactor operations that support Oklo's plans for commercial-scale domestic isotope production. Groves is a commercial-scale facility, meaning Oklo can repeat the experience with demonstrated experience in siting, building, commissioning, and operating its commercial reactors in the future with confidence in how long it takes and how much it costs to build its isotope production reactors. LOCKHART, Texas, July 23, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) ("Oklo"), an advanced nuclear technology company, today announced it received startup authorization for its Groves Isotope Test Reactor. This authorization, granted under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program, completes DOE's authorization process and clears the way for fuel loading, startup testing, and reactor operations. Groves is a low-power test reactor designed to demonstrate reactor design, build, and operations, and to establish operating experience needed to support future isotope production facilities. The project advances Oklo's plans to establish domestic production of critical isotopes for potential use in cancer care, manufacturing, scientific research, space exploration, and national security. Groves, a privately financed facility, demonstrates nearly every element of a commercially oriented deployment model that Oklo can repeat and scale across future projects. The facility was built on private land, including full-scale civil excavation and construction, and assembled with all full-scale systems, components, and fuel either sourced commercially or manufactured by Oklo. "This facility marks the fastest time that we are aware of to go from greenfield to substantial completion for a full-scale, privately funded and sited reactor in history," said Oklo co-founder and C...