New York, N.Y., April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear micro modular reactor (MMR) and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today issued a statement regarding recent regulatory developments from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”), including the finalization of a new rule, known as Part 53, and the issuance of a proposed new rule known as Part 57. These rules are being advanced pursuant to Congressional direction under the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act of 2019, known as NEIMA.
These developments represent continued progress toward modernizing the U.S. nuclear regulatory framework to better support the safe and efficient deployment of advanced non-light water reactor technologies, including emerging microreactor technologies such as the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System being developed by NANO Nuclear.
Part 53: Final Rule Effective April 29, 2026
The NRC’s Part 53 final rule, which becomes effective on April 29, 2026, establishes a risk-informed, performance-based, and technology-inclusive optional licensing framework. Part 53 is intended to complement existing frameworks under Parts 50 and 52 by offering an alternative pathway that:
- Better aligns with the inherent safety characteristics of advanced reactor designs like the KRONOS MMR™.
- Supports more flexible and potentially more predictable licensing approaches; and
- Provides optionality for developers like NANO Nuclear pursuing commercial deployment strategies.
NANO Nuclear is currently conducting a detailed evaluation of Part 53 and believes it could provide meaningful benefits for future commercial deployment of advanced reactor technologies, including its KRONOS MMR™ microreactor platform, particularly as designs mature and standardization increases.
Proposed Part 57: Microreactor-Focused Framework with Accelerated Timelines
The NRC has also issued its proposed Part 57 rule, a draft framework specifically focused on microreactors like the KRONOS MMR™, representing a subset of advanced reactors characterized by lower radiological consequence profiles and smaller, modular designs.
The proposed rule introduces a regulatory structure which, if adopted, is intended to support streamlined, repeatable, and potentially fleet-scale deployment, incorporating concepts such as:
- Combined or closely aligned construction and operating license processes;
- Recognition of factory fabrication and modular deployment;
- Standardized design approvals supporting multi-site deployment;
- A risk-informed, performance-based approach tailored to microreactors;
- Reduced emergency planning requirements and alternative siting considerations; and
- Manufacturing licenses enabling pre-deployment fabrication
- A provision for developing standardized operational programs
These features reflect a broader shift toward enabling standardized, scalable deployment models for microreactors, consistent with industry trends being supported by NANO Nuclear toward factory-built systems and distributed energy applications.
The NRC’s proposed Part 57 rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register in 2026, initiating a public comment period. While timelines remain subject to change, the NRC has indicated its intent to advance this framework on an accelerated basis following stakeholder input, with finalization and implementation to follow thereafter.
Applicability to NANO Nuclear’s Development Strategy
NANO Nuclear is currently conducting a detailed evaluation of both Part 53 and Part 57 to assess their potential applicability across different stages of reactor deployment.
At this time, NANO Nuclear expects that the potential efficiencies introduced under these frameworks would be more applicable to subsequent commercial deployments rather than first-of-a-kind projects, including its planned initial KRONOS MMR™ deployment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which will proceed under the existing Part 50 research reactor licensing framework.
Notably, the direction of both Part 53 and Part 57 toward risk-informed requirements, reduced off-site consequence assumptions, and standardized, repeatable deployment models reflect many of the design attributes embedded in advanced microreactor platforms such as the KRONOS MMR™. As these regulatory pathways continue to evolve, NANO Nuclear believes that designs emphasizing inherent safety characteristics, modularity, and limited radiological impact profiles may be increasingly well aligned with the intent of these frameworks.
NANO Nuclear’s Position and Industry Engagement
NANO Nuclear supports the NRC’s efforts to evolve its regulatory framework in a manner that maintains its longstanding commitment to safety while enabling innovation in advanced reactor technologies. NANO Nuclear is actively:
- Continuing its evaluation of both Part 53 and the proposed Part 57 frameworks; and
- Engaging with the Nuclear Energy Institute (“NEI”) and other industry stakeholders.
NANO Nuclear believes that, over time, these frameworks could play an important role in supporting the efficient, scalable commercialization of advanced microreactor technologies, particularly as the industry transitions toward standardized designs and multi-unit deployment strategies such as those being contemplated by NANO Nuclear.
Management Commentary
James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear Energy, commented: “We commend the NRC for advancing both the final Part 53 rule and the proposed Part 57 framework, which represent important steps toward modernizing the regulatory environment for advanced nuclear technologies. These developments reflect a clear shift toward risk-informed, performance-based approaches that recognize the evolving characteristics and benefits of next-generation reactor designs. As the industry moves toward more standardized and scalable deployment models, we believe these frameworks have the potential to support the long-term commercial rollout of microreactor technologies such as our KRONOS MMR™.”
Michael Montecalvo, Senior Director of Reactor Licensing at NANO Nuclear Energy, added: “We are actively reviewing both Part 53 and the proposed Part 57 framework to assess their applicability across different stages of reactor deployment. The proposed Part 57 framework, in particular, reflects a growing recognition of the novel characteristics of microreactor technologies, including their smaller size and lower consequence profiles. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the NRC, NEI, and other stakeholders as the rulemaking process progresses and our own regulatory efforts continue.”