Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the country’s scientists for successfully developing the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. This marks a significant milestone in India’s civil nuclear program, moving it into the second stage. The reactor, which can generate more fuel than it consumes, showcases India’s scientific prowess and engineering capabilities.
In 2024, Prime Minister Modi oversaw the “core loading” initiation at the 500 MWe PFBR unit in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. Once operational, India will be the world’s second nation, after Russia, to run a commercial Fast Breeder Reactor. The PFBR, a product of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, was entirely designed and constructed domestically by BHAVINI, with substantial contributions from over 200 Indian industries, including MSMEs.
The reactor will initially operate on Uranium-Plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, with plans to introduce Thorium-232 in the future. This move aligns with India’s long-term nuclear strategy, leveraging its vast thorium reserves for sustainable power generation. India’s thorium-rich resources could potentially fuel the nation for up to 60,000 years, making this development crucial for the country’s energy security.
