Oklo Advances Licensing with Completion of NRC Readiness Assessment

Business Wire

17-07-2025

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO), an advanced nuclear technology company, has announced the successful completion of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) pre-application readiness assessment for Phase 1 of the combined license application (COLA) for Oklo's first commercial Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
The NRC's observations affirmed Oklo's readiness to move forward, with no significant gaps identified that would hinder acceptance of the application. Observations were also provided that will help Oklo finalize the application to support an efficient and effective review process. 'We view this assessment as a productive engagement tool that moves our licensing and permitting work forward,' said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo. 'Our team has worked closely with the NRC to build a clear, efficient licensing pathway, and this is a good signal that we are on track.'
Oklo has proactively engaged with the NRC since 2016 and has completed a broad range of pre-application activities, including securing an approved Quality Assurance Program Description and advancing critical licensing elements such as safety analysis, component classification, and operational protocols.
The completion of this assessment reflects both Oklo's innovative approach to licensing and the NRC's broader commitment—reinforced by the ADVANCE Act and recent Executive Orders—to modernize regulatory processes and enable the timely deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. Notably, the NRC's move to support standardized environmental review templates for reactor and site characteristics marks a meaningful step toward repeatable, accelerated licensing for advanced reactors.
Oklo plans to submit the first phase of the Aurora-INL COLA this year. Oklo's licensing strategy supports the efficient and repeatable deployment of its Aurora powerhouses, enabling future follow-on applications to serve its growing pipeline of commercial and Federal customers.
About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical radioisotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert nuclear waste 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 National Laboratories.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that express Oklo's opinions, expectations, objectives, beliefs, plans, intentions, strategies, assumptions, forecasts or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, 'forward-looking statements.' The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'possible,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'would' or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this press release and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the benefits of the DOE's Voucher Program, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the markets in which Oklo operates. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties.
As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the actual results or performance of Oklo may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following important risk factors could affect Oklo's future results and cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements: risks related to the deployment of Oklo's powerhouses; the risk that Oklo is pursuing an emerging market, with no commercial project operating, regulatory uncertainties; the potential need for financing to construct plants, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the effects of competition; the risk that the DOE's Voucher Program fails to produce the expected benefits; changes in applicable laws or regulations; and the outcome of any government and regulatory proceedings and investigations and inquiries.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties of the other documents filed by Oklo from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in any document incorporated by reference are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on Oklo. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Oklo will be those that Oklo has anticipated. Oklo undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.