Anticipated executive orders from former leader Trump intend to streamline the sanctioning process for new nuclear power plants while reinforcing domestic nuclear fuel supply chains, as part of efforts aimed at bolstering the sector. This yet-to-be-confirmed news has triggered an impressive uptick in the after-hours trading values of nuclear stocks, including those of notable corporations like NuScale and Oklo. The government, during Trump’s administration, had been mulling several strategies to increase the nation’s nuclear capabilities, with plans to hit a projected 400 GW mark by 2050. These orders intended to simplify the regulatory approval process for new reactors, and bolster the nuclear fuel supply chains, a concern that had been escalating due to the considerable reliance on foreign suppliers.
In the wake of this announcement, companies in the nuclear sphere experienced a significant increase in after-hours trading values, with corporations like NuScale and Oklo experiencing a surge of 13% and 17% respectively. Oklo’s head, Jacob DeWitte, described the situation as ‘good uncertainty,’ anticipating potential advantage from Trump’s executive orders that would potentially speed up Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing, extend nuclear responsibilities to the military and the Department of Energy (DOE), and strengthen domestic nuclear fuel supply chains.
DeWitte, in Oklo’s Q1 2025 earnings call, confirmed the company’s engagement in a ‘pre-application readiness assessment’ with the NRC. This aims to make the process of submitting their formal license application for an up-scaled 75-MW reactor design by Q4 2025 smoother. Oklo has set its eyes on achieving first power production at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site in late 2027 or early 2028.
As an interesting side note, following Sam Altman’s recent resignation as Oklo board chair, DeWitte stated that any potential conflict of interest due to Altman’s role as CEO of OpenAI has effectively been eliminated. This adjustment within Oklo’s executive leadership structure is seen as a positive sign for the corporate governance of the company.
Within Oklo’s current portfolio, the company already boasts nonbinding agreements, which represent approximately 14 GW of power, with several datacenters and industrial operations. While this is already an impressive fact for Oklo, the company continues to develop its business strategy and build towards its mission.
The administration during Trump’s term was contemplating enacting four executive orders related to nuclear power. They include directives aimed at overhauling the NRC’s licensing process by setting an 18-month deadline for new applications, reevaluating radiation exposure norms, and permitting the use of property under the military and DOE for reactor deployments. The underlying objective of these maneuvers was to significantly enhance U.S. nuclear capacity, raising it to an ambitious 400 GW by 2050, a fourfold increase from the then standing capacity of 100 GW.
At the time, the NRC was already incorporating changes suggested by the previous year’s ADVANCE Act. However, the anticipated reforms from the executive orders could potentially expedite Oklo’s expected licensing timeline, originally set between 24 to 30 months.
Oklo, as one of eight companies, was eligible for participation in the military’s Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program, which supports the execution of reactor deployments on military bases. This provides the company with additional growth avenues and opportunities to contribute to the country’s nuclear power capabilities.
Furthermore, Oklo is working on the development of facilities for fabricating nuclear fuel, capable of repurposing spent fuel that otherwise would be destined for long-term storage. This not only portrays Oklo as an innovative player in the nuclear energy industry, but also strengthens its position by showcasing adaptability and a commitment to efficient resource management.
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