Oklo says its Groves 2 Forge pilot is planned to combine reactor irradiation with isotope processing capabilities, initially focused on lutetium-177 for radiopharmaceutical treatments.
Published by Allstream Insiders
Allstream Insiders Summary
Oklo plans to advance its Groves 2 Forge isotope-production and processing pilot facility through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative. According to Oklo’s October 13, 2026, announcement, the Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center selected 12 developers across 13 projects for the initiative.
Oklo said Groves 2 Forge will build on demonstration experience from its Groves Isotope Test Reactor in Texas. The planned pilot would combine reactor irradiation with hot-cell processing, isotope separation, product recovery, packaging and transportation. Oklo said its initial focus will be lutetium-177, a therapeutic isotope used in targeted cancer treatments.
What Groves 2 Forge is designed to do
Oklo describes Groves 2 Forge as an integrated isotope-production and processing pilot. The company said the facility is intended to bring together several stages of the isotope value chain that can otherwise be handled separately.
| Planned capability | Oklo-described scope |
|---|---|
| Reactor irradiation | Irradiation of target materials |
| Hot-cell processing | Processing capability paired with reactor irradiation |
| Isotope separation and recovery | Separation and recovery of isotope products |
| Product preparation | Packaging and transportation |
The company said Groves 2 Forge will initially focus on lutetium-177 and may support other therapeutic isotopes used in manufacturing radiopharmaceutical treatments. Oklo also described broader isotope applications in cancer treatment, industrial inspection, scientific research, space exploration and national-security work.
How the DOE Nuclear Energy Launch Pad relates to the project
Oklo said DOE and its National Reactor Innovation Center selected 12 developers across 13 projects for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, which builds on DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program. DOE describes the Reactor Pilot Program as a pathway for advanced-reactor demonstration intended to help accelerate commercial licensing.
The selection supports Oklo’s plan to advance Groves 2 Forge under the DOE initiative. It is distinct from a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission license for commercial operation; Oklo said it plans to transition from pilot operations to commercial-scale isotope production only with the appropriate NRC licenses.
How Groves 2 Forge builds on the Texas test reactor
Oklo said Groves 2 Forge will build upon its Groves Isotope Test Reactor demonstration in Texas. The company reported that the test reactor reached criticality under DOE authorization through the Reactor Pilot Program.
For Groves 2 Forge, Oklo said it plans to integrate isotope irradiation and processing capabilities, prepare isotope products and generate operating experience to support a future transition to commercial-scale isotope production. The company’s October announcement does not provide a project budget, construction schedule, operating date, specific site for Groves 2 Forge or awarded engineering and construction packages.
Why the isotope focus matters
Oklo said some critical isotopes are supplied through aging or foreign facilities and that short-lived medical isotopes can lose useful activity during transportation. The company framed Groves 2 Forge as an effort to expand domestic isotope production and processing capacity while bringing production closer to customers.
That rationale is a company-stated objective, not a measure of completed commercial capacity. The October announcement establishes the DOE initiative selection and Oklo’s planned technical scope, while commercial operation remains subject to the applicable licensing process.
Allstream perspective: The planned facility extends beyond reactor demonstration
Allstream perspective: Groves 2 Forge is notable because its announced scope pairs reactor irradiation with the downstream processing, separation, recovery, packaging and transportation steps needed to prepare isotope products. That is a broader integrated-facility concept than a reactor demonstration alone.
The current disclosure does not identify a project budget, commercial schedule, site for Groves 2 Forge, equipment suppliers or awarded work packages. The next material milestones will be project-specific licensing, location and execution disclosures rather than the DOE selection alone.
