Business Wire·Mar 17, 2026, 4:30 PM ET

Oklo's Atomic Alchemy Announces U.S. Department of Energy Approval for Nuclear Safety Design Agreement of its Groves Isotopes Test Reactor

OKLO

Oklo Inc. received U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approval of the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement (NSDA) for Atomic Alchemy's Groves Isotopes Test Reactor in Texas under the Reactor Pilot Program.
This NSDA approval follows the January signing of an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) & marks a major milestone in the DOE's authorization pathway designed to accelerate U.S. industrial capacity.
With the NSDA approved, the facility will proceed to the next phase by submitting its Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for review under DOE oversight.
Atomic Alchemy targets achieving criticality for the Groves facility by July 4, 2026.
The site is located near Lockhart in Caldwell County, Texas, within the Proto-Town Innovation Hub, which hosts demonstrations of advanced construction & manufacturing technologies.
The pilot facility aims to develop operating procedures & validate processes to support future domestic commercial production of isotopes used in cancer treatment, advanced manufacturing, scientific research, space exploration, & national security.
Oklo's CEO Jacob DeWitte stated the project will gather critical data to refine processes for subsequent licensing submissions & future deployments.
DOE Manager Robert Boston emphasized that the approval advances a safety-first approach to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical radioisotopes.
Oklo is developing fast fission power plants, establishing a domestic isotope supply chain, & advancing nuclear fuel recycling technologies.