Oklo reports DOE clearance for Groves‑1 research operations
The Texas test reactor will support equipment trials and operator training after reaching first criticality in August 2026.
Ines Halvorsen
Research, testing and training were cleared as of Nov. 11 at the 100-watt Groves-1 reactor, Oklo Inc. NYSEOKLO said, after the U.S. Department of Energy removed its final operations hold point. The announcement discloses no new spending commitment or contracted revenue for Groves-1, which reached first criticality in August 2026.
Oklo shares traded higher at US$26.15 on the NYSE at 10:38 a.m. EST on Nov. 11, according to NYSEOKLO.
The operating experience is intended to inform Groves-2 Forge, Oklo's planned isotope production and processing pilot facility. Wednesday's release gives no startup date for that facility, whose initial focus would be lutetium-177, an isotope used in targeted cancer treatments.
Groves-1 will support criticality and reactivity benchmarking, validation of engineering models, and equipment testing. Oklo said the work would include continued evaluations of control rod drive mechanisms for performance and reliability, alongside training and qualification of personnel for future reactor deployments.
The company develops fast-fission power plants under its Aurora name, as well as isotope production capabilities and nuclear fuel recycling. It intends to use the Texas facility's operating experience to prepare teams and systems for additional nuclear facilities.
During a recent startup described in Wednesday's release, operators wore eye-tracking glasses to record where they looked and for how long. Oklo said those observations would help improve the human-machine interface and inform design choices.
Oklo said the benchmarking could also support light-water reactor designs and the existing large-reactor fleet. It said resulting data could help improve fuel performance and power output in small and large light-water reactors.
"Now we're building on that experience by operating the reactor, testing new capabilities, and learning directly from the work," Oklo chief executive and co-founder Jacob DeWitte said in the release.
DOE's Earlier Notice Sets A 100-Watt Maximum
DOE's June 15 environmental notice describes Groves-1 as a zero-power critical assembly with a maximum power level of 100 watts. Its stated purpose includes demonstrating safe design and construction and gaining experience for future reactor development supporting domestic isotope production.
Wednesday's account of the final operations clearance comes from Oklo's release; the underlying DOE authorization was not reviewed. The release describes authorization under DOE's Reactor Pilot Program and does not announce commercial Aurora power deliveries.
Groves-2 Forge was selected under DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative, according to Oklo. The planned facility would combine reactor irradiation with hot-cell processing, including isotope separation, product recovery, packaging and transportation.
Another advanced-reactor developer, Terrestrial Energy Inc. NASDAQIMSR, reported on Nov. 10 US$276.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at Sept. 30. It reported US$7.1 million of quarterly cash burn and expects spending to increase as development work expands.
Read more: Terrestrial Energy reports US$276.3M liquidity as nuclear spending rises
DOE's June 15 notice originally scheduled the Groves-1 operational phase to finish by the end of 2026. Oklo's Nov. 11 release supplies no updated completion date or startup date for Groves-2 Forge.
