Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NNE) announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has finalized Part 53, a risk‑informed, performance‑based licensing framework for advanced reactors that becomes effective on April 29 2026. The rule, part of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act of 2019 and the ADVANCE Act, offers a voluntary, technology‑inclusive pathway designed to streamline approval for non‑light‑water reactors such as NNE’s KRONOS MMR.
The announcement also referenced the NRC’s proposed Part 57 rule, announced on April 24 2026, which specifically targets microreactors. Part 57 would allow factory‑built, modular units to receive a single construction and operating license, accelerating the licensing process for microreactor developers.
NNE said the new Part 53 framework aligns closely with the safety and design characteristics of its KRONOS MMR, a high‑temperature gas‑cooled microreactor capable of 15 MWe. The company is evaluating how the rules could accelerate its planned construction‑permit application in the first half of 2026, while noting that the benefits of Parts 53 and 57 are expected to apply to subsequent commercial deployments.
The company also noted that the Part 57 proposal could support a fleet‑scale deployment model for its microreactor portfolio, positioning NNE to meet growing demand for distributed, carbon‑free power from AI data centers and industrial customers.
However, NNE clarified that its initial KRONOS MMR deployment at the University of Illinois will proceed under the existing Part 50 research reactor licensing framework, and that the new Part 53 and Part 57 rules will not apply to that first deployment.
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