Atomic Alchemy, a subsidiary of US-based Oklo, has begun site characterisation work at a potential location for a commercial radioisotope production facility at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This follows a memorandum of understanding secured in 2020 with the DOE Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID) to identify a suitable location for the project at INL and a licence in late November 2024 authorising initial site characterisation activities.
Work includes core borings to collect soil and rock samples that will provide essential data on subsurface composition and ensure that the production facility meets stringent safety and building code requirements while supporting the design of a robust structural foundation.
Thomas Eiden, Founder & CEO of Atomic Alchemy, noted: “We’re proud to advance a reliable domestic supply of essential radioisotopes and help restore US leadership in this critical field.” Radioisotopes are expected to represent a $55.7bn market opportunity by 2026, according to Research Nester, and demand is projected to increase significantly over the next decade.
“Oklo aims to address this growing market demand through reliable, US-based radioisotope production facilities that leverage our nuclear reactor and fuel recycling technologies,” said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder & CEO of Oklo. “Through Atomic Alchemy, we aim to execute transformative projects that will expand our capabilities in commercial radioisotope production.”
