Nuclea Energy USA Inc. has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) to explore the potential siting of a nuclear test reactor at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab (USREL). The agreement, signed on June 2, 2026, is intended to advance the deployment of the company's Morpheus Micro Reactor.
The partnership between Nuclea USA and the OED will facilitate research, development, and the commercial deployment of Nuclea's micro modular reactor. Through this collaboration, the parties intend to explore siting a nuclear test reactor at USREL, support engagement with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and evaluate pathways for the future deployment of the technology in Utah.
According to Josef Freundorfer, CEO of Nuclea, the partnership is expected to help prove the inherent advantages of their technology and accelerate their deployment schedule. Sagar Sanghera, Chairman and Co-Founder of Nuclea, stated that the company is thrilled to work with USREL due to its proven track record of demonstrating advanced power generation technologies.
Emy Lesofski, Director and Energy Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, said the partnership is a step towards an abundant, reliable, secure, and clean energy future and noted that Utah is leading the nation in energy innovation.
The Morpheus Micro Reactor is a compact lead-cooled reactor technology designed to be factory-built, transportable, and scalable from approximately 3.5 MWe to 50 MWe. Nuclea is targeting applications for remote industrial operations, defense installations, data centers, and off-grid communities.
The USREL, located in Emery County, serves as a hub for energy research and innovation, hosting various cutting-edge projects and supporting Utah's energy strategy.
This MOU follows Nuclea's July 30, 2026, announcement regarding a definitive business combination agreement with Mangoceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGRX). The proposed transaction is intended to provide Nuclea with a path to a Nasdaq public listing to fund the development and commercialization of the Morpheus microreactor.
