India's indigenous nuclear reactor attains criticality, Modi calls the feat a major boost

India's indigenous 500
MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in Tamil Nadu successfully attained first
criticality, the start of a controlled fission chain reaction, last night (6
April), giving a major boost to the country's long term energy security and
advancing indigenous nuclear technology capabilities.
With the achievement of
first criticality, India moves closer to realising the full potential of its
three stage nuclear power programme.
The technology
development and design of the prototype fast breeder reactor was carried out
indigenously by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), an
R&D centre of the Department of Atomic Energy, and was built and
commissioned by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI), a public sector
unit under the department.
Prototype Fast Breeder
Reactors are a cornerstone of India's long term nuclear strategy. Unlike
conventional thermal reactors, the PFBR uses uranium plutonium mixed oxide
fuel. The core of the reactor is surrounded by a blanket of Uranium-238, where
fast neutrons convert it into fissile Plutonium-239, enabling the reactor to
produce more fuel than it consumes.
The reactor is designed
to eventually use Thorium-232 in the blanket. Through transmutation,
Thorium-232 will be converted into Uranium-233, which will fuel the third stage
of India's nuclear power programme. This capability enhances the utilisation of
nuclear fuel resources and enables the country to extract far greater energy
from its limited uranium reserves while preparing for large scale use of
thorium.
Fast breeder technology
forms a vital bridge between the current fleet of pressurised heavy water reactors
and the future deployment of thorium based reactors, leveraging India's
abundant thorium resources for long term clean energy generation.
Beyond energy
generation, the fast breeder programme strengthens capabilities in nuclear fuel
cycle technologies, advanced materials, reactor physics and large scale
engineering, supporting future reactor designs and next generation nuclear
technologies.
As India expands its clean energy portfolio, fast breeder reactors are expected
to play a key role in delivering reliable, low carbon base load power with
higher thermal efficiency.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi congratulated scientists and engineers on the achievement, calling it a
defining step forward in India's civil nuclear journey and significant progress
in the second stage of its nuclear programme.
He emphasised that the
advanced reactor, which has the capability to generate more fuel than it
consumes, showcases the country's strong scientific capabilities and robust
engineering expertise.
















