Safety approval advances Groves reactor toward startup
Shares of Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) gained around 3.5% in pre-market trading on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Energy approved the Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) for the company’s Groves Isotope Test Reactor in Texas under the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program.
The approval establishes the reactor’s final safety basis and follows the Department of Energy’s earlier clearance of the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis.
With both safety reviews now complete, the Groves project advances from the documentation stage into the DOE’s final pre-startup review process.
Final regulatory steps remain before operations begin
The remaining milestones include the Department of Energy’s operational readiness review and formal startup approval.
Once startup authorisation is granted, Oklo will be permitted to receive and load nuclear fuel, begin startup testing and move toward first criticality.
The company continues to target first criticality at the Groves facility in July 2026.
Company highlights industry first
Oklo co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jacob DeWitte said the project marks an important milestone for the advanced nuclear sector.
According to DeWitte, Groves is the first advanced reactor project to receive approval of its Documented Safety Analysis on privately owned land using entirely commercially sourced fuel, equipment and systems supplied by the private sector.
Facility to support isotope production
The Groves reactor is expected to play a central role in expanding Oklo’s isotope business while strengthening the domestic supply chain for critical medical and industrial isotopes.
These materials are used across a range of applications, including cancer diagnosis and treatment, advanced manufacturing, scientific research, space exploration and national security.
DeWitte added that the project demonstrates how advanced nuclear reactors can be deployed more quickly in the United States without compromising safety standards.
Construction of the Groves facility began less than a year ago.