Wed Oct 16 13:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Oklo Receives Key Approval for Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facility
**SANTA CLARA, Calif., October 15, 2024** – Oklo Inc., a leading developer of advanced fission power technology and nuclear fuel recycling, announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the Conceptual Safety Design Report (CSDR) for its Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This crucial milestone brings Oklo closer to its goal of utilizing recovered nuclear material to fuel its first commercial Aurora power plant.
The Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility will be responsible for fabricating fuel for Oklo’s Aurora power plant, which is slated to be located at INL. The facility will use high assay low enriched uranium recovered from used Experimental Breeder Reactor-II fuel.
“We are proud of our collaboration with INL and DOE as we move closer to turning on our first commercial plant that uses this recovered nuclear fuel in just a few years,” said Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo. “Oklo is uniquely positioned with a secured fuel supply, site use permit, significant regulatory traction, and supply chain development to support the first deployment of its Aurora powerhouse.”
Dr. Jess Gehin, INL’s associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science and Technology, highlighted the importance of this approval: “The approval of the CSDR is a critical step toward fabricating fuel for Oklo’s first commercial deployment. As the nation’s nuclear energy research laboratory, we are committed to partnering with companies like Oklo to advance fission technologies and deliver clean energy solutions.”
The CSDR approval marks a key step in the DOE’s comprehensive review process. Next steps include the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis before construction and the Documented Safety Analysis after construction and commissioning.
**About Oklo Inc.**
Oklo is dedicated to developing fast fission power plants that provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale. The company has secured a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy, been awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory, submitted the first advanced fission custom combined license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and is developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.
**About Idaho National Laboratory**
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL serves as the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, celebrating 75 years of scientific innovations in 2024. The laboratory conducts research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science, and the environment.
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