Oklo Advances Groves 2 Forge for U.S. DOE Nuclear Energy Initiative
Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO), an advanced nuclear technology company, has announced plans to advance its Groves isotope production facility, known as Groves 2 Forge, through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative. The project is intended to build on the experience gained from Oklo’s Groves Isotope Test Reactor while introducing additional capabilities for producing, processing, and purifying critical isotopes used in medical treatments and other essential applications.
The Groves 2 Forge project represents a further step in Oklo’s efforts to strengthen domestic isotope production infrastructure. By integrating reactor irradiation with downstream processing capabilities, the facility is planned to connect several stages of the isotope supply chain that have historically operated separately. These capabilities are expected to include isotope separation, product recovery, packaging, and transportation, supporting a more integrated approach to isotope manufacturing.
The project will focus on lutetium-177 and other therapeutic isotopes used in the production of radiopharmaceutical treatments. These isotopes play an important role in nuclear medicine, particularly in treatments designed to target specific cancer cells. By developing infrastructure that combines irradiation and processing operations, Oklo aims to improve the domestic availability of materials required by radiopharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers.
Building on the Groves Reactor Demonstration
Groves 2 Forge will build on the demonstration experience established by the Groves Isotope Test Reactor. Under DOE authorization through the Reactor Pilot Program (RPP), Oklo advanced the original Groves project from a greenfield site to reactor criticality in less than one year. According to the company, it was the first RPP project to achieve this milestone on privately owned land.
The achievement demonstrated how collaboration between private nuclear developers and federal authorities can support the development and testing of advanced nuclear technologies. It also provided Oklo with practical experience in project execution, reactor development, and the regulatory coordination required to advance nuclear infrastructure.
Oklo co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jacob DeWitte said the original Groves project demonstrated how quickly a new reactor could be constructed and brought to criticality through close cooperation between the private sector and the DOE.
DeWitte explained that Groves 2 Forge would build directly on that foundation by introducing the capabilities needed to irradiate target materials and process them into valuable isotope products. The expanded project is intended to move beyond reactor demonstration by addressing additional stages required to prepare isotopes for commercial applications.
The company plans to integrate isotope irradiation and processing operations at the new facility, prepare isotope products, and develop operational experience that can support a future transition to commercial-scale isotope production. That transition would proceed with the appropriate licenses and authorizations in place.
DOE Selects Projects for Nuclear Energy Launch Pad
The DOE and NRIC selected 12 developers across 13 projects to participate in the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative. The program builds on momentum generated by the Reactor Pilot Program and is designed to provide a streamlined pathway for domestic reactor development and advancements across the nuclear fuel cycle.
The initiative is intended to help participating developers progress nuclear technologies and related infrastructure through coordinated development activities. By supporting projects at different stages of development, the program aims to encourage innovation while helping address technical and operational challenges associated with deploying nuclear technologies in the United States.
For Oklo, participation provides an opportunity to extend its previous work under the Reactor Pilot Program into an integrated isotope production and processing project. The Groves 2 Forge development will focus on combining irradiation infrastructure with the equipment and processes needed to recover, purify, prepare, and package isotope products.
Chimi Zacot, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors, said Oklo’s experience with the Groves Isotope Test Reactor demonstrated how private developers could advance nuclear projects safely and efficiently under DOE authorization.
Zacot added that the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad would support Oklo as it builds on the progress achieved through the original Groves project. The initiative is expected to help advance integrated isotope production and processing capabilities through the development of Groves 2.
The DOE’s support highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing nuclear technologies and associated supply-chain infrastructure. For developers such as Oklo, coordinated federal programs can provide a framework for demonstrating technologies, gathering operating experience, and preparing projects for subsequent stages of development.
Addressing Isotope Supply Chain Challenges
Critical isotopes support a wide range of applications, including cancer treatment, industrial inspection, scientific research, space exploration, and national security. However, many of these materials are currently supplied through aging facilities or production infrastructure located outside the United States. These conditions can create supply-chain vulnerabilities and complicate access to materials required by essential industries.
Medical isotopes present additional logistical challenges because some have relatively short half-lives. As radioactive materials decay, their useful activity decreases over time, making production schedules, processing capacity, and transportation arrangements particularly important. Delays between production and delivery can reduce the amount of usable material available when it reaches its destination.
Developing domestic production and processing capabilities could help address these challenges by expanding available supply and bringing certain operations closer to end users. An integrated facility that combines irradiation and downstream processing could also help coordinate multiple stages of production that might otherwise depend on separate facilities and transportation arrangements.
Through the Groves and Groves 2 initiatives, Oklo aims to expand U.S. isotope production capacity, reduce supply-chain risks, and support increasing demand across medical, industrial, scientific, and national security markets.
The planned emphasis on lutetium-177 and other therapeutic isotopes reflects the importance of reliable isotope supplies for radiopharmaceutical manufacturing. As nuclear medicine continues to rely on specialized radioactive materials, dependable access to production and processing infrastructure remains an important consideration for manufacturers and healthcare supply chains.
Preparing for Future Commercial Production
Groves 2 Forge is planned as an extension of Oklo’s existing demonstration work, combining reactor-based isotope irradiation with processing capabilities required to prepare products for downstream use. The project is expected to generate operating experience and help establish the processes necessary for a potential move toward commercial-scale production, subject to appropriate licensing and regulatory requirements.
The development also forms part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic nuclear capabilities by connecting reactor technology with practical applications in medicine and other industries. By building on the Groves Isotope Test Reactor’s progress, Oklo intends to develop a more comprehensive production pathway that addresses both isotope generation and product preparation.
As the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative advances, Groves 2 Forge will contribute to efforts to improve U.S. access to critical isotopes and develop infrastructure capable of supporting future demand. Its progress will depend on successful facility development, integration of irradiation and processing systems, operational readiness, and the necessary authorizations for commercial production.
For Oklo, the project represents an opportunity to extend its reactor demonstration experience into a more integrated isotope production model. For the broader U.S. nuclear sector, it highlights how advanced reactor development and isotope-processing infrastructure can work together to support medical innovation, industrial applications, and domestic supply-chain resilience.
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