Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, which recently achieved criticality, a significant milestone in the country’s civil nuclear program. During his Mann Ki Baat radio program, PM Modi highlighted the achievement, emphasizing the importance of science in India’s progress and the contributions of scientists to the civil nuclear program, benefiting various sectors including industry, energy, and health. The successful criticality of the fast breeder reactor in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, marks a historic moment in India’s nuclear energy journey, ushering in a new phase of operation for the reactor.
India’s 500 MWe sodium-cooled reactor, which produces more fissile material than it consumes, represents a step towards utilizing the country’s thorium reserves for long-term energy security in the third stage of the nuclear program. PM Modi underscored the reactor’s indigenous technology, highlighting its dual function of generating energy and producing new fuel independently for the future. He commended the efforts of all involved in India’s nuclear program, recognizing their role in enhancing the lives of citizens and contributing to the nation’s development goals.
