In a significant boost to India’s nuclear energy programme, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attained first criticality on Monday, marking the start of a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction. The achievement is expected to strengthen India’s clean energy capacity by providing reliable, low-carbon base-load power, while also reinforcing indigenous capabilities in advanced nuclear engineering and technology.
The milestone was achieved after the reactor received regulatory clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board following a rigorous safety review of plant systems, officials said.
The PFBR has been indigenously designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd, both under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Fast breeder reactors are central to India’s long-term nuclear strategy. Unlike conventional reactors, the PFBR uses uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel and is capable of generating more fissile material than it consumes. It is designed to convert uranium-238 into plutonium-239, and in later stages, utilise thorium-232 to produce uranium-233 — a key element in India’s three-stage nuclear power programme.
Officials said the development would significantly enhance fuel utilisation and reduce dependence on limited uranium resources, while paving the way for future deployment of thorium-based reactors.
The reactor incorporates advanced safety features, liquid sodium cooling technology and a closed fuel cycle system, allowing recycling of nuclear material and reducing waste.
