Initial engineering program is leveraging IMPSA’s decades of nuclear experience to advance engineering and manufacturability of the KRONOS MMR™ design
New York, N.Y. and Mendoza, Argentina, Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) ("NANO" or “the Company"), a leading advanced nuclear micro modular reactor and technology company developing microreactors, nuclear fuel cycle capabilities and nuclear transportation solutions, today announced that it has entered into a Engineering Services Master Agreement (ESMA) with the U.S. subsidiary of IMPSA, one of Argentina's leading engineering and heavy-manufacturing companies, to support the engineering, design-for-manufacture and potential future fabrication of critical components for NANO Nuclear’s KRONOS MMR™ Energy System.
The three-year agreement establishes a framework for NANO Nuclear to utilize IMPSA's extensive experience in nuclear pressure vessels, ASME Section III manufacturing, welding, non-destructive examination, quality assurance and heavy-component fabrication as the KRONOS MMR™ design progresses toward manufacturing readiness.
The reactor pressure vessel is specifically identified as a principal reactor-component under evaluation by IMPSA. The parties have separately identified reactor cavity cooling systems, spent-fuel storage systems and additional reactor and transportation components as additional areas of potential collaboration.
Initial KRONOS MMR™ Engineering and Manufacturability Program
Under the ESMA, NANO and IMPSA are beginning with a dedicated KRONOS MMR™ Design Review and Assessment – Engineering Consulting and Manufacturability Feasibility Study. The initial program provides for an estimated six-month period, supported by a retainer. IMPSA's work is expected to include an independent review of KRONOS MMR™ components against applicable ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III requirements and the application of IMPSA's prior experience engineering and fabricating nuclear pressure vessels and other nuclear components.
The program aims to incorporate manufacturing expertise into the KRONOS MMR™ design process at an early stage, allowing the companies to identify potential fabrication constraints, inspection limitations, accessibility issues, supply-chain risks and potential design improvements ahead of future manufacturing. As required by NANO, the work may also extend to detailed engineering and fabrication drawings, code-compliant calculations, 3D models and other engineering deliverables.
Figure 1: NANO Nuclear Energy’s engineering team visits IMPSA’s manufacturing facility for a project kickoff meeting
"IMPSA has developed sophisticated nuclear engineering and manufacturing capabilities over many decades, and we see an opportunity to connect that expertise with the next generation of advanced nuclear projects," said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. "Our objective is to build NANO Nuclear with the capabilities needed to commercialize nuclear technology: reactor engineering, manufacturing, fuel, transportation and project execution. Our relationship with IMPSA can strengthen several of those areas at the same time while establishing an important industrial relationship between the United States and Argentina."
"Advanced reactors have to move from drawings and calculations to modular components that can be manufactured repeatedly, inspected, qualified and assembled," said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Energy. "IMPSA brings more than four decades of nuclear engineering and manufacturing experience and particularly valuable expertise in nuclear pressure vessels and ASME Section III fabrication. Having that manufacturing knowledge applied to KRONOS at this stage is expected to identify constraints earlier, strengthen the design-for-manufacture process and build a much more direct pathway toward future component production."
The non-exclusive ESMA describes IMPSA as one of the few companies in Latin America certified with ASME N and ASME III N stamps, providing capabilities for the engineering and construction of Class 1 heavy nuclear components.
"This alliance represents a strategic opportunity for IMPSA and for the Argentine nuclear industry," said Jorge Salcedo Hernández, President of IMPSA. "With decades of experience manufacturing pressure vessels under ASME N-Stamp certification, IMPSA has established itself as one of the few suppliers capable of assessing the manufacturability of nuclear components at an early stage. Our goal is to enable NANO Nuclear to accelerate the KRONOS MMR™ manufacturing process, advancing toward safer and more efficient nuclear systems."
Future component fabrication, regional projects or other commercial activities beyond the initial engineering services will remain subject to the results of the engineering work, applicable regulatory requirements and, where required, additional work orders or definitive agreements between the relevant parties.