Shares of Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) climbed 4.1% after the company unveiled new strategic alliances aimed at advancing domestic production of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) — a key component in powering next-generation nuclear reactors.
The California-based nuclear innovation firm announced it is teaming up with Hexium, TerraPower, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to explore the viability of using Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) technology for enriching uranium at commercial scale. The collaboration targets one of the most critical bottlenecks facing the U.S. nuclear industry: the lack of a consistent domestic supply of HALEU.
According to projections from the Department of Energy, the U.S. could require as much as 40 metric tons of HALEU annually by the early 2030s. However, only about 700 kilograms have been produced domestically since 2023, highlighting a significant shortfall the partnership hopes to address through the development of a conceptual design and economic analysis of AVLIS-based enrichment.
“Building a secure domestic fuel supply is a national priority. This effort supports the U.S. goal of expanding HALEU production through innovative technologies and private-sector partnerships,” said Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo.
AVLIS technology stands apart from conventional enrichment methods that rely on centrifuges. Instead, it uses lasers to precisely ionize uranium isotopes, offering the potential for greater efficiency and accuracy. The process also avoids the need to convert uranium into uranium hexafluoride, reducing both chemical handling and infrastructure requirements.
This initiative supports broader federal ambitions to strengthen the country’s nuclear energy capabilities. The Department of Energy has laid out a vision to quadruple domestic nuclear energy output by 2050, which includes major investments in fuel production and supply chain development.