Located at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, this will mark the beginning of the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme.
About Fast Breeder Reactor
- Genesis: In 2003, government established Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) to construct and operate Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).
- Earlier first stage was implemented by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
- Functioning:
- It uses indigenously produced Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel and utilizes liquid sodium as a coolant.
- Uranium-238 “blanket” surrounding fuel core will undergo nuclear transmutation to produce more fuel, thus earning the name ‘Breeder’.
Significance of FBR
- Paves way for third stage: It also marks use of Thorium-232 (a non fissile material), which creates fissile Uranium-233 to be used as fuel in third stage.
- Technological Advancement: India becomes second country after Russia with a commercial FBR.
- Reduced Nuclear Waste: Uses spent fuel from Stage-I,
- Utilization of Thorium Reserve: Paves the way for the full utilization of India’s abundant thorium reserves.
India’s 3 stage Nuclear Power Programme:
- Dr Homi J Bhabha (Father of India’s nuclear programme) devised a three-stage nuclear power programme in the 1950s to make the most of India's limited uranium reserves and abundant thorium reserves.
