Nuclear power company Oklo has finalised a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct site inspections for its planned nuclear reactor in Idaho.

The MOA allows the company to move ahead to conduct the site preparation and construction phase of the project.

Oklo is the only advanced fission company with a DOE site use permit. It has made substantial regulatory progress and secured a fuel supply.

The MOA enables Oklo to carry out geotechnical assessments, environmental surveys and infrastructure planning at its chosen site in Idaho.

The site investigations are crucial for advancing the project towards the construction stage.

The company stated: “By addressing critical site preparation tasks early, Oklo is working towards a streamlined transition to construction and aims to keep the project on track for timely completion.”

The MOA builds on Oklo’s long-standing collaboration with the DOE and further strengthens their partnership, highlighting Oklo’s dedication to moving efficiently towards commercialising its advanced fission power plant.

Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte stated: “Our partnership with the DOE has been instrumental, beginning with the site use permit and fuel award in 2019.

“Signing this MOA reflects our commitment to timely deployment and operational readiness while also helping to manage costs and maintain our project schedule.”

In August 2024, Oklo signed a preferred supplier agreement with Germany’s Siemens Energy.

The agreement was for the supply of power conversion systems for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse, supporting the company’s goal of efficiently marketing advanced fission technology.

The agreement, building on a prior memorandum of understanding, marked a significant milestone for Oklo as it aimed to enhance production scalability, cost efficiency and rapid deployment to meet increasing customer demand.