OKLO Unveils One-Step NRC Licensing to Expedite Reactor Deployment
OKLO plans to use a one-step combined NRC licensing process for its modular nuclear reactors. The approach will let the company reuse design approvals at subsequent sites, potentially reducing deployment timelines and cutting regulatory overhead.
1. OKLO’s One-Step NRC Licensing Strategy and Its Impact on Deployment Timelines
OKLO has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to pursue a consolidated, one-step licensing approach for its Aurora fast reactor design, allowing the company to file a single combined construction and operating license application rather than the traditional two-phase submission. By integrating site permit, construction permit and operating license into one docket, OKLO estimates it can reduce regulatory review time by approximately 18 months compared with the average 36-month review cycle for modular reactor projects. This approach also enables OKLO to reuse key safety analyses, environmental impact assessments and instrumentation and control system evaluations across multiple sites, potentially cutting subsequent application lead times to under 12 months. For investors, this streamlined pathway could translate into earlier revenue recognition, with the first commercial unit targeted for on-grid operation in late 2028 and follow-on units rolling out at a pace of two per year thereafter.