US-based nuclear power and fuel recycling company Oklo has selected Kiewit Nuclear Solutions as lead constructor for its first commercial Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
Oklo is developing the Aurora microreactor, which uses heat pipes to transport heat from the reactor core to a supercritical carbon dioxide power conversion system to generate electricity. It will use high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel. Oklo says the reactor builds on the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) and space reactor legacy. Oklo initially marketed a 1.5 MWe microreactor version of the Aurora, but has now expanded its capacity offerings from 15 MWe to 100 MWe.
Kiewit Nuclear Solutions, a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, will begin to support the design, procurement, and construction of the Aurora-INL, with pre-construction expected to begin in 2025 and commercial operations targeted for late 2027 to early 2028. The Aurora-INL represents a major milestone in Oklo’s near-term commercialisation strategy to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy using proven, advanced nuclear technology.
Because a significant portion of the Aurora powerhouse’s construction scope is non-nuclear, Oklo can leverage Kiewit’s extensive experience in delivering large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects. This approach is designed to accelerate delivery timelines, reduce costs, and uphold standards of safety and quality, underscoring Oklo’s commitment to the efficient, pragmatic deployment of advanced nuclear technology.
“We’ve completed key pre-construction milestones, including site characterisation work in Idaho, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and Idaho National Laboratory,” said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder & CEO of Oklo. “Kiewit brings the execution strength and project delivery experience that are essential as we move into this next phase. This is a critical step in helping us build efficiently and deliver clean energy on a meaningful timeline. Advanced reactors will largely be able to be constructed differently than legacy plants, and a key pathway to realising the economic benefits associated with that is to modernise how we design, procure, and build these plants.”
The Aurora-INL is a key part of Oklo’s broader deployment pipeline, which includes agreements to supply over 14 GWe of clean energy to commercial customers and US government partners.
