India’s indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor, to go operational, produces more fuel than consumes

Upon completion of the core loading, the first approach to criticality will be achieved, leading to generation of power subsequently

In spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, PFBR is indigenously designed and constructed by BHAVINI with contribution from more than 200 Indian industries including MSMEs

India’s nuclear power program is aimed to meet the twin goals of energy security and sustainable development

Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed initiation of the core loading of India’s indigenous 500 Mwe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in the nuclear complex at Kalpakkam, about 70 km south of Chennai.

Earlier today, witnessed the commencement of “core loading“ of India’s first and totally indegenous fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam, which produces more fuel than is consumed.

This will pave way for eventual utilisation of India’s vast thorium reserves and thus obviate the… pic.twitter.com/gsYSIClbp9

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 4, 2024

The initiation of the core loading of PFBR, developed by BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited), marks a “historic milestone in India’s nuclear power programme”.

The reactor core consists of control sub-assemblies, blanket sub-assemblies and fuel sub-assemblies, and the core loading activity would include the loading of the reactor control sub-assemblies, blanket sub-assemblies and fuel sub-assemblies that would generate power, it was informed.

PFBR marks the second stage of the three-stage nuclear power programme of the country with a “closed fuel cycle”, and the spent fuel from the first stage would be “reprocessed and used as fuel” in FBR. “A unique feature of this sodium cooled PFBR is that it can produce more fuel than it consumes, thus helping in achieving self-reliance in fuel supply for future fast reactors,” as per sources.

With “minimised nuclear waste” generated from the reactor and advanced safety features, the FBRs would provide a safe, efficient and clean source of energy and contribute to the goal of net zero.

“This is an important step for India towards thorium utilisation in the third stage of the nuclear power programme. Once commissioned, India will be the second country after Russia to have a commercial operating Fast Reactor,” government sources added.