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DOE Pilot Program Delivers First Advanced Reactor Criticality Milestone

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Antares Nuclear completed a criticality demonstration for its Mark-0 reactor at Idaho National Laboratory, marking a key milestone for the Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program, the Department said Thursday.

The zero-power-fueled test confirmed that the reactor can operate safely and established a pathway for future reactors that could begin generating electricity in 2027 and beyond, DOE said.

Mark-0 became the first of several advanced reactors expected to reach criticality before the July 4 deadline established under President Donald Trump's May 2025 executive order.

"For the first time in more than four decades, a new privately developed non-light-water reactor has reached criticality in the US," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday, calling the achievement a milestone for the country's nuclear industry.

The demonstration validated the reactor's safety and operational performance and will help support the design, licensing, and deployment of future commercial reactor projects, DOE added.

After additional testing and Nuclear Regulatory Commission approvals, Antares expects its microreactors to support terrestrial and space applications as well as military facilities that require dependable power supplies, the Department said.

Mark-0 became the 53rd reactor built at Idaho National Laboratory since 1951, joining a series of test reactors that helped shape the current US nuclear fleet, according to the Department of Energy.

Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish said the Reactor Pilot Program delivered its first criticality milestone in less than a year despite doubts that developers could meet the accelerated schedule.

The Reactor Pilot Program helps developers certify and construct first-of-a-kind advanced reactors, while the Department of Energy recently launched the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad to further accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, DOE added.

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