Oklo targets 2030 for Alaska's first small nuclear reactor at Eielson

Oklo is building Alaska's first small modular reactor at Eielson Air Force Base, with construction starting in 2027 and commercial operation targeted for 2030.

The Aurora Powerhouse will provide 5 megawatts of electricity and 50,000 to 100,000 pounds per hour of steam to the base.

An Oklo representative said the reactor is a 60-megawatt thermal dual-purpose system roughly equivalent to about 15 megawatts electric, depending on how the energy is utilized. Under the current structure for Eielson, up to 5 megawatts of electricity will be supplied directly to the base, while the remaining thermal capacity will supply approximately 50,000 to 100,000 pounds per hour for steam and heating needs.

The project will begin NEPA activities and NRC licensing submissions in June 2026, with site work starting in 2027. Major building construction is planned for 2028, with fuel fabrication activities beginning in parallel. The company is targeting commercial operation in 2030.

Construction is expected to create over 300 jobs during build-out and 70 to 80 permanent positions once operational. The reactor will be located at the Spruce Lake area on the base, a site that has already undergone prior clearing activity to minimize environmental and habitat impact.

The technology is based on proven fast reactor design with 400-plus cumulative reactor years of global operating experience. A video narrator explained the design is based on proven U.S. fast reactor technology, building on the legacy of the EBR-2 reactor, which operated successfully for 30 years.

Unlike traditional nuclear plants, the Aurora Powerhouse does not require massive cooling towers or large bodies of water. Its small and simple design allows for compact footprint, lower material use, and strong inherent safety characteristics through operation at atmospheric pressure with a very high boiling point coolant.

The Eielson reactor is a smaller derivative of Oklo's flagship Aurora powerhouse currently under development at Idaho National Laboratory. While the Idaho project is a 75-megawatt electric commercial powerhouse, the Eielson reactor is scaled for dual-purpose use. An Oklo representative said the Eielson Powerhouse benefits directly from the engineering, licensing, operational lessons and supply chain development associated with the Idaho deployment.

Company background and Alaska connections

Oklo founders Jacob DeWitt and Caroline Cochran identified rural Alaska as a primary market for advanced nuclear technology early in the company's development. The company worked with Launch Alaska about seven years ago to explore bringing advanced nuclear to rural communities.

When the Department of Defense opened opportunities to deploy advanced nuclear reactors on military bases with focus on Arctic and Alaska environments, Oklo competed for and won the Eielson contract. An Oklo representative said Alaska is core to who the company is, and the Eielson project serves as proof of concept for future deployments across the state.