Advanced nuclear firm Oklo is moving forward with plans to build a dedicated isotope production plant, known as Groves-2 Forge. The project will join the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad. This federal initiative is run jointly by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Reactor Innovation Center.
The program aims to speed up the rollout of commercial reactors and domestic fuel cycle technologies. Oklo is one of 12 developers chosen to advance 13 clean-energy projects under the scheme.
The planned facility will focus on producing life-saving medical isotopes, led by lutetium-177. This substance forms the backbone of targeted radiopharmaceuticals, which destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
“Many critical isotopes used in cancer treatment, industrial inspection, scientific research, space exploration and national security are currently supplied through aging or foreign facilities,” said Oklo in a press release.
Because medical isotopes decay rapidly, long shipping delays can degrade their therapeutic value before they reach patients. Oklo aims to eliminate these supply risks. Producing the materials closer to domestic clinics will safeguard their potency.
Groves-2 Forge will tackle the problem by consolidating the isotope supply chain. In conventional setups, material must travel between different facilities for distinct stages of processing.
The new plant will combine reactor irradiation directly with specialized “hot-cell” laboratories on a single site. This allows technicians to irradiate target materials, separate the isotopes, purify the final product, and package it for transport under one roof.
The project builds directly on Oklo’s recent success in Texas. In August, the California-based developer achieved “ first criticality ” at its low-power Groves Isotope Test Reactor.
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