In a historic event boosting India’s second-stage nuclear energy program, the indigenous 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) located at Kalpakkam has achieved criticality. Criticality refers to the reactor’s capability for a controlled chain reaction.
He said on social media platform X: “Today, India has taken a decisive step in its civilian nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear program. The indigenously designed and built PFBR at Kalpakkam has achieved criticality.”
He stated that the indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor has achieved criticality at Kalpakkam. This advanced reactor is now capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, showcasing the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering skill.
This is a decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves in the program’s third stage.
This is a proud moment for India. Congratulations to our scientists and engineers.
India
India is a vast South Asian country with one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, dating back over 5,000 years to the Indus Valley. Its long and complex history is marked by the rise of major religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, a succession of powerful empires, and British colonial rule before gaining independence in 1947. Today, it is a densely populated and diverse republic renowned for its rich cultural heritage, including countless historic monuments, festivals, and traditions.
Kalpakkam
Kalpakkam is a coastal town in Tamil Nadu, India, primarily known for hosting the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS). Established in the 1970s, it is a key hub for India’s nuclear power program and research in fast breeder reactor technology. The area also features the Kalpakkam nuclear plant township and is adjacent to ancient historical sites like the UNESCO World Heritage monuments at Mahabalipuram.
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is an advanced nuclear reactor under construction at the Kalpakkam nuclear site in India. It is designed to produce more nuclear fuel (plutonium-239) than it consumes by using fast neutrons to “breed” fuel from uranium-238. Once operational, it will mark a significant step in India’s three-stage nuclear power program, aiming to utilize the country’s vast thorium reserves for long-term energy independence.
PFBR
“PFBR” refers to the **Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)**, a nuclear reactor under construction at the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a landmark project of the Indian nuclear program, designed to produce more nuclear fuel (plutonium-239) than it consumes, utilizing a sodium-cooled fast reactor technology. Its development, led by the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), represents a critical step in India’s three-stage nuclear power program aimed at achieving energy independence through the use of its vast thorium reserves.
