Oklo and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Partner to Accelerate Advanced Nuclear Technology Development
In a strategic move poised to shape the future of clean and reliable energy, Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO), a pioneering advanced nuclear technology company based in the United States, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), South Korea’s premier nuclear utility and one of the most accomplished builders and operators of nuclear facilities worldwide. This collaboration aims to foster cooperation in the advancement and global deployment of Oklo’s next-generation nuclear energy systems.
A Shared Vision for Advanced Nuclear Energy
The MOU outlines a shared vision between the two companies to accelerate the commercialization and scalability of Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse—a compact, high-efficiency, 75-megawatt electric (MWe) advanced fission power plant. The Aurora powerhouse is designed to offer clean, reliable, and firm power in a modular format, with the flexibility to serve a broad range of energy applications from remote communities to large industrial facilities and grid infrastructure.
Under the agreement, Oklo and KHNP will explore a wide range of collaboration opportunities, including:
- Joint development and standardization of the Aurora reactor design.
- Design verification and validation processes, ensuring safety, reliability, and regulatory readiness.
- Manufacturability assessments of major components, aimed at optimizing production for both cost and efficiency.
- Early-stage project development, including supply chain planning, construction feasibility assessments, and coordination on balance-of-plant systems.
These collaborative areas are critical not only for accelerating Oklo’s commercialization timeline but also for enhancing the broader deployment potential of small modular reactor (SMR) technology on a global scale.
Oklo’s Aurora Powerhouse: An Overview
The Aurora design represents a new frontier in nuclear energy. It leverages fast-spectrum fission technology combined with metallic fuel and passive safety systems, offering unique operational advantages such as higher fuel utilization, reduced waste generation, and the ability to integrate with renewable systems or operate as a stand-alone power generator.
Oklo’s flagship project, a 75 MWe Aurora unit, is set to be constructed at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site. The company has already made considerable progress, completing site characterization through borehole drilling, a key milestone that informs site-specific design and construction planning. The INL project will serve as a model for future deployments, showcasing the viability of advanced nuclear for commercial-scale clean energy.
To ensure regulatory compliance and safety, Oklo is actively engaged with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The company is currently undergoing a Pre-Application Readiness Assessment, a critical step in preparing to submit a Combined License Application (COLA)—a streamlined regulatory pathway that allows both construction and operating approvals in one comprehensive license. Oklo anticipates submitting this COLA later in 2025 and expects to follow up with additional licensing applications to meet growing market demand. The company’s order pipeline already exceeds 14 gigawatts (GW), reflecting strong interest from industries, utilities, and government stakeholders in adopting next-generation nuclear energy solutions.
A Strategic Global Partnership
KHNP, a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), brings unmatched expertise in nuclear plant construction, operation, and maintenance. Since its founding, KHNP has been a leader in deploying nuclear power both domestically and abroad, with over five decades of experience and a reputation for excellence in quality, safety, and efficiency.
One of KHNP’s current strategic focuses is the development of its own advanced nuclear design, known as the i-SMR (innovative Small Modular Reactor). This innovative reactor aims to elevate South Korea’s competitive position in the global SMR market by combining enhanced safety features, cost-efficiency, and modular scalability. The company has emphasized that entering the international advanced nuclear sector will require partnerships with leading-edge technology developers like Oklo.
“We are proud to partner with KHNP, a globally recognized leader in nuclear plant construction and operations,” said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo. “KHNP has been at the forefront of nuclear energy development since 1971, continuously building and operating plants with excellence. Their depth of experience in execution—particularly in areas such as manufacturability, supply chain development, and construction planning—will help Oklo fast-track our efforts to bring the Aurora powerhouse to market. By aligning on these critical factors, we can accelerate commercialization and enhance our ability to deploy powerhouses more rapidly across the globe.”
Mutual Benefits and Long-Term Impact
This partnership offers numerous benefits for both companies, as well as for the broader clean energy landscape:
- Technology Transfer and Learning: KHNP’s experience in constructing large-scale nuclear reactors will provide invaluable insights for Oklo as it advances the Aurora powerhouse to commercial readiness. In turn, KHNP will gain early access to breakthrough U.S. SMR technology, enabling opportunities for co-development and market expansion.
- Supply Chain Development: A joint focus on manufacturing readiness and supply chain logistics will help ensure that both companies are equipped to meet demand. This is especially important given the projected global surge in SMR deployment over the coming decades.
- International Market Synergy: KHNP’s established global relationships and project development experience, including in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe, could complement Oklo’s ambitions to expand internationally. Together, the partners are positioned to become a formidable force in the global SMR race.
Whang Ju-ho, CEO of KHNP, echoed this sentiment, stating: “As we push forward with the development of our domestic i-SMR design, we recognize the necessity of building strategic alliances with innovators like Oklo. Advanced nuclear energy requires more than technological advancement—it requires collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and borders. By combining our engineering depth with Oklo’s breakthrough design approach, we aim to create strong synergies that accelerate the delivery of safe, efficient, and scalable nuclear power.”
A Pivotal Moment for Advanced Nuclear
The announcement of this MOU comes at a time of increasing urgency for clean, dispatchable energy solutions. As nations around the world pursue aggressive decarbonization goals to address climate change, advanced nuclear technologies like Oklo’s Aurora offer a critical complement to intermittent renewables such as wind and solar. These technologies provide the firm capacity and reliability needed to stabilize power grids while minimizing carbon emissions.
Additionally, the modular nature of Oklo’s Aurora design makes it well-suited for hard-to-electrify sectors, such as mining, defense installations, remote communities, and industrial manufacturing, where traditional energy infrastructure may be limited or infeasible.
In the broader policy context, both the United States and South Korea have been actively investing in SMR research and development, and both governments have signaled strong interest in supporting international cooperation in nuclear innovation. This partnership between Oklo and KHNP aligns with these national strategies and could serve as a model for further public-private and cross-border collaborations in the nuclear sector.
With this MOU in place, the next steps for Oklo and KHNP will likely involve the establishment of joint working groups, technology exchange workshops, and detailed project planning meetings to identify initial collaboration opportunities. Early milestones may include co-development of reactor components, engineering alignment on the Aurora design, and integration of KHNP’s construction and operational experience into Oklo’s commercialization strategy.
The companies will also explore avenues to jointly pursue project development opportunities in global markets, leveraging KHNP’s established presence and Oklo’s innovative technology to deliver customized solutions for a range of energy needs.
As the world transitions to a low-carbon energy future, the collaboration between Oklo and KHNP represents a powerful example of how established expertise and innovative design can come together to solve complex energy challenges. With a shared commitment to safety, sustainability, and global impact, this partnership is poised to make a lasting mark on the future of nuclear energy.
