US EditionWhy does India want fast breeder nuclear reactors?
- On Monday, April 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam achieved "criticality," a key milestone enabling the reactor to sustain a controlled nuclear chain reaction.
- The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research designed the PFBR as a bridge in India's three-stage nuclear strategy, aiming to utilize domestic thorium reserves while reducing dependence on imported fuel.
- Achieving a fuel use rate of around 10%, this fast breeder reactor utilizes liquid sodium coolant rather than the natural uranium used in traditional pressurised heavy water reactors, enhancing efficiency.
- Engineers will now conduct extensive testing and calibration to refine safety protocols before seeking approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to operate the reactor in commercial mode.
- Past global attempts like France's Superphénix faced high costs and technical hurdles despite technical feasibility, underscoring the rigorous oversight and safety culture India must maintain advancing its nuclear ambitions.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The nuclear stunner India pulled off; US, France invested billions but failed
India achieved stunning success at the Kalpakkam nuclear plant, which even the US and France failed to. Only Russia has a commercially running Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR). The Kalpakkam FBR will use India's huge reserves of Thorium to power millions of households, and reduce the country's energy imports.
New 'fast breeder' nuclear reactor hits critical milestone in transition from uranium to thorium
India may have just taken a major step toward reshaping the future of energy, according to Interesting Engineering. In a post on the social platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country's long-anticipated Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor has achieved "criticality," a key milestone meaning it can now sustain a controlled nuclear chain reaction. "Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the sec…
“Impressive Progress”: Global Nuclear Watchdog Applauds India’s Reactor Milestone at Kalpakkam - Goemkarponn
New Delhi: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has praised India for achieving a major milestone in its nuclear energy programme with the successful attainment of criticality at the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in Kalpakkam. The achievement marks a significant advancement in India’s indigenous nuclear technology and its efforts to secure long term energy sustainability. In a message shared on soci…
Kalpakkam PFBR Criticality 2026: India Pulls Off Global Nuclear Stunner - discountwalas
Now India has achieved a feat that global nuclear giants like the United States and France abandoned decades ago. On April 6, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attained first criticality. Therefore, the reactor has successfully started its first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. This Kalpakkam PFBR criticality 2026 milestone marks India’s entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear program. Meanwhile…
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