U.S. Department of Energy Approves Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis of Oklo’s Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility as Assembly Begins at Idaho National Laboratory

Key Terms

preliminary documented safety analysis regulatory

A preliminary documented safety analysis is an early, formal review of collected safety information about a drug or medical device, summarizing any harmful effects observed so far and how they were recorded. Investors care because it gives an initial signal about whether a product appears safe enough to continue development or win approval; like checking a car after a first test drive, it can quickly change expectations about future costs, timelines and market value.

pdsA regulatory

PDSA stands for Plan-Do-Study-Act, a four-step cycle used to test and refine changes in clinical care, manufacturing, or business processes by planning a change, trying it on a small scale, reviewing the results, and then adjusting before wider rollout. Investors care because it shows whether a company systematically reduces risk and improves outcomes—like iterating a recipe in a small batch before cooking for a banquet—helping predict operational reliability, cost control, and regulatory readiness.

aurora fuel fabrication facility technical

A fuel fabrication facility is an industrial plant that turns processed nuclear material into finished fuel assemblies used in reactors, similar to a bakery that shapes raw ingredients into packaged loaves ready for sale. For investors, it matters because such plants are capital‑intensive, tightly regulated and central to the nuclear supply chain; their output, safety record and regulatory status can directly affect production forecasts, costs, liability exposure and long‑term revenue for companies involved.

fuel line pilot program regulatory

A fuel line pilot program is a limited trial that tests a new way to supply, finance or manage the delivery of fuel—for example a short-term credit line for fuel purchases, a new supply route, or an operational process at fueling sites. Investors watch these pilots because successful trials can lower costs, reduce supply interruptions, or open new revenue streams, much like a trial run of a new checkout system that speeds sales and cuts expenses.

nuclear safety design agreement regulatory

A nuclear safety design agreement is a formal contract that spells out how a nuclear facility’s design will meet safety rules, testing, and regulatory checks before it is built or operated. Investors care because the agreement is like a project’s safety blueprint and inspection plan: it reduces the chance of costly redesigns, regulatory delays, fines or shutdowns, and helps predict timelines, insurance needs and long‑term liability.

documented safety analysis regulatory

A documented safety analysis is a written report that identifies potential hazards of a product, process, or clinical treatment, assesses how likely and severe those hazards are, and outlines controls to reduce risk. For investors it shows a company’s diligence in preventing harm and regulatory problems—like a car safety inspection report that helps predict future costs, legal exposure, product delays, and the company’s credibility with regulators and customers.

reactor pilot program regulatory

A reactor pilot program is a small-scale, first-of-a-kind project that builds and operates a prototype power reactor or reactor system to test its design, safety systems, permitting and real-world costs before wider commercial deployment. For investors it matters because pilot programs reduce technical and regulatory uncertainty, reveal true construction and operating costs, and set the timeline for possible revenue — much like a prototype car that proves a new model works before mass production.

experimental breeder reactor-ii (ebr-ii) technical

A prototype fast breeder reactor that was built as a test-bed for producing more nuclear fuel than it consumed and for demonstrating liquid-metal cooling and passive safety features; think of it as a prototype car used to try out new engine and safety ideas for nuclear power. For investors it matters because such reactors drive technology development, influence future commercial opportunities, and create long‑term regulatory, cleanup and liability considerations that can affect asset values, project costs and energy-market outlooks.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Oklo Inc., (NYSE: OKLO) (Oklo), an advanced nuclear technology company, announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Idaho Operations Office has approved the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for the Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility (A3F) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), marking the start of the assembly of the facility.

Oklo's Aurora powerhouse (Image: Gensler)

The PDSA for the A3F, which will fabricate fuel for Oklo’s first commercial-scale powerhouse, is the first facility to be approved under DOE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program. The previous procedural milestone, the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement, was approved in just under 2 weeks, demonstrating a new authorization pathway aimed at accelerating a reproducible framework for scaling production capacity following executive orders signed in May.

The PDSA marks the second of three safety-basis documents to be approved for the authorization of the A3F, with the next step being a Documented Safety Analysis (DSA), an update to the PDSA based on final design and construction. The DSA will be submitted during construction and updated to reflect the final build once the facility is completed. The final step includes a readiness review for startup of the facility.

The PDSA milestone demonstrates DOE’s and Oklo’s shared commitment to rigorous safety evaluation, transparency, and early design engagement while pursuing national energy and fuel security goals.

The A3F will fabricate fuel for Oklo’s first full-scale powerhouse, the Aurora-INL, which was selected for the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program. These facilities couple fuel production and power delivery for near-term commercial deployment of advanced nuclear energy.

“By advancing modern fuel fabrication and recycling, we’re addressing fuel-supply constraints, improving the economics of our powerhouses, and opening new long-term revenue streams for the business,” says co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. “We’re moving swiftly toward full deployment of this fuel facility where we will repurpose fuel from the legacy Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) for use in Oklo’s Aurora-INL.”

Oklo was granted access to EBR-II fuel material through a competitive DOE process launched in 2019. The same year, the company also received a site-use permit at INL for its first powerhouse.

About Idaho National Laboratory: Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

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 radioisotopes; 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

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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 development and deployment of Oklo’s powerhouses; the risk that Oklo is pursuing an emerging market with no commercial project operating and regulatory uncertainties; risks related to acquisitions, divestitures, or joint ventures we may engage in; the need for financing to construct plants, which remain subject to market, financial, political, and legal conditions; risks related to an inability to raise additional capital to support our business and sustain our growth on favorable terms; the effects of competition; risks related to accessing high-assay low-enriched uranium, plutonium, and other fuels at acceptable costs (including recycled fuels); risks related to our supply chain; risks related to power purchase agreements; risks related to human capital; risks related to our intellectual property; risks related to cybersecurity and data privacy; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including tariffs; the outcome of any government and regulatory proceedings and investigations and inquiries; and the other factors set forth in our documents we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

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 SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release 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 to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation, except as may be required by law.

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Media Contact for Oklo:

Bonita Chester, Head of Communications and Media at media@oklo.com



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Sam Doane, Director of Investor Relations at investors@oklo.com

Source: Oklo Inc.