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    Maxwell Hopkins • CLSA

    Maxwell Hopkins's questions to Oklo Inc (OKLO) leadership

    Maxwell Hopkins's questions to Oklo Inc (OKLO) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Maxwell Hopkins of CLSA inquired about the construction timeline for the Idaho powerhouse, including when groundbreaking might occur and any potential siting issues. He also asked if customers have expressed concerns about Oklo's fast neutron reactor technology compared to competitors' thermal neutron designs, particularly regarding proliferation risks.

    Answer

    CEO Jake Dewitte stated that groundbreaking for the Idaho plant could occur as soon as 2026, noting that the site at Idaho National Laboratory is extremely well-characterized, which mitigates siting risks. On the technology front, Dewitte detailed the superiority of fast neutron reactors in fuel efficiency, material resilience, and inherent safety. He strongly refuted proliferation concerns, explaining that fast reactors are actually anti-proliferative because they can effectively consume materials like plutonium and keep them in a mixed, unusable state, a key advantage of the technology.

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    Maxwell Hopkins's questions to Oklo Inc (OKLO) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Maxwell Hopkins asked about the construction timeline for the Idaho site, potential siting challenges, and whether customers have concerns about Oklo's fast neutron reactor technology, particularly regarding proliferation risks, compared to competitors' thermal neutron designs.

    Answer

    CEO Jacob Dewitte stated that groundbreaking for the Idaho plant could occur as soon as 2026, noting the site is already well-characterized. He then gave a detailed explanation of the technical advantages of fast neutron reactors, including superior fuel efficiency, inherent safety features, and anti-proliferative benefits through comprehensive fuel recycling, clarifying that these are strengths and not a concern for customers.

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    Maxwell Hopkins's questions to Nuscale Power Corp (SMR) leadership

    Maxwell Hopkins's questions to Nuscale Power Corp (SMR) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Maxwell Hopkins requested clarity on the application process for the Department of Energy's $800 million light-water reactor program and asked if the immediate power needs of data centers might favor natural gas development over SMRs.

    Answer

    President and CEO John Hopkins and executive Clayton Scott clarified that participating in the DOE program requires forming a team with a partner, such as a utility, and submitting a competitive application. Regarding competition, Hopkins acknowledged natural gas is an option but stated that the decarbonization commitments of major tech companies make nuclear a superior long-term solution.

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