Oklo named to supply microreactor for Alaska airbase
The US Defense Logistics Agency Energy Office has issued Oklo Inc a new Notice of Intent to Award for the development and operation of a licensed microreactor facility at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, clearing the way for contract negotiations to begin.
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"We are excited to partner with Oklo to take a significant step toward enhancing energy security at our installations," Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment Michael Saunders said. "Following an extensive evaluation, Oklo was selected for their innovation, commitment to safety, and ability to support the mission-critical needs of this installation."
The US Air Force confirmed in 2021 that Eielson - which currently relies on coal to power its operations - would be the preferred site for its first microreactor, and in September 2022 issued a request for proposals for a "nuclear microreactor energy production facility" able to produce electricity and steam and to meet a baseload electricity demand of 5 MWe. The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) issued a similar notice to Oklo in August 2023, but rescinded it less than a month later to allow for "further consideration". This new Notice of Intent to Award again designates Oklo as the apparent successful offeror following a comprehensive evaluation process, the company said.
Oklo would design, construct, own, and operate the power plant, delivering both electricity to the Eielson base under a long-term power purchase agreement. The notice issued by the DLA on behalf of the Department of the Air Force and the US Department of Defense, initiates the negotiation process to potentially award a 30-year, firm-fixed-price contract to Oklo after obtaining a licence from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"This microreactor pilot could position Alaska and the nation at the forefront of energy innovation - leading us to a new era of safe, secure, and reliable energy," said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. "It has the potential to shape future approaches to powering national security infrastructure, especially in the Arctic - where energy reliability is vital in the face of evolving threats."
Oklo is developing fast fission power plants capable of recycling used nuclear material, and has been given access to high-assay low-enriched uranium recovered from used fuel from the Department of Energy Experimental Breeder Reactor-II, which operated at Idaho National Laboratory from 1964 to 1994, to fuel its first core. The company's Aurora "powerhouse" can provide continuous, resilient energy that can operate independently from the grid, which the company said are key attributes for energy security at remote installations like Eielson.
As well as being rooted in legislative and executive initiatives including the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act and a 2021 Executive Order promoting small modular reactors for national defence and space exploration, the announcement also supports the aims set out in the raft of Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump in late May.
Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte - who was part of the White House ceremony marking the signature - said the notice "reflects continued confidence in Oklo's ability to deliver clean and secure energy solutions for mission-critical infrastructure," adding: "We are honoured to support national defense resilience objectives while demonstrating the value of US-pioneered fast reactor technology."
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