DOE approves the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for the Aurora powerhouse at INL

Oklo/Aurora-INL

DOE's Idaho office approved the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for Oklo's Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory, the first step toward authorisation under DOE's Reactor Pilot Program, which lets DOE rather than the NRC authorise test reactors. Oklo immediately asked DOE to start reviewing its preliminary safety analysis.

• The Nuclear Safety Design Agreement (NSDA) is the first under DOE's Fuel Line Pilot Projects, approved in under two weeks, demonstrating an accelerated pathway.
• Aurora-INL pairs an advanced reactor with a fuel fabrication facility, coupling fuel recycling and power generation for near-term commercial deployment.
• DOE's Reactor Pilot Program can authorize test reactors without NRC review, potentially accelerating commercialization of advanced nuclear designs.