NRC grants construction permit for Kemmerer Unit 1, the first for a commercial non-light-water reactor

TerraPower/Natrium (Kemmerer Unit 1)

The NRC voted to grant a construction permit for Kemmerer Unit 1, the first Natrium plant, after a safety review finished ahead of schedule. It is the first NRC construction approval for a commercial non-light-water reactor in more than 40 years.

• Kemmerer Unit 1's NRC construction permit—the first for a commercial advanced reactor in 40+ years—validates non-light-water designs for U.S. deployment.
• The review finished in 18 months instead of the planned 27, reflecting complete application quality and regulatory streamlining for advanced reactors.
• This permit enables TerraPower to begin Natrium construction with full regulatory backing, setting a precedent for other advanced designs.