Lightbridge and nuclear power and fuel recycling company Oklo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for fuel fabrication facilities and advanced fuel recycling in the US.
The MoU focuses on a feasibility study for co-locating Lightbridge’s commercial-scale fuel fabrication facility at Oklo’s proposed site at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls.
The agreement also explores a nuclear waste recycling collaboration.
Backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the California-based Oklo is developing microreactors.
Oklo’s Aurora nuclear power plant is proposed to be equipped with a compact, fast neutron fission reactor that incorporates integrated solar panels. Capable of generating up to 15MW of power, the plant can run for over 10 years without requiring refuelling, according to NucNet.
Additionally, Aurora could have the capacity to provide heat for industrial uses.
In October 2024, the US Department of Energy (DOE) approved the conceptual safety design report for Oklo’s proposed Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility.
The site will also host an Aurora powerhouse reactor, which is expected to be operational by 2027.
The fuel will be fabricated using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) recovered from the DOE’s Experimental Breeder Reactor-II, which operated at Idaho National Laboratory from 1964 to 1994.
The fuel recycling company has access to five tonnes of HALEU through a cooperative agreement with the laboratory, awarded in 2019. The DOE will retain ownership of the HALEU during and after its use.
Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte said: “Collaborating with Lightbridge represents a unique opportunity to accelerate innovation across the nuclear supply chain.
“The potential to co-locate facilities and collaborate on cutting-edge technologies is aligned with our commitment to delivering cost-effective, carbon-free energy solutions.”
Massachusetts-based Lightbridge is developing advanced nuclear fuel technology to deliver zero-emission, clean energy while ensuring global energy security.
The company is creating Lightbridge Fuel, a next-generation nuclear fuel for existing light water reactors and pressurised heavy water reactors, improving reactor safety, economics, and proliferation resistance.
Lightbridge is also advancing its fuel technology for small modular reactors (SMRs), supporting load-following with renewables on a zero-carbon electric grid.
Additionally, the nuclear fuel technology company has signed two long-term framework agreements with Battelle Energy Alliance, which is DOE’s operating contractor for Idaho National Laboratory.
Lightbridge president and CEO Seth Grae said: “This collaboration with Oklo represents an important strategic step in shaping the future of clean energy.
“The potential co-location of our commercial fuel fabrication facilities could offer significant synergies in terms of upfront capital expenditures and ongoing operating costs.”
