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India’s First Prototype Fast-Breeder Reactor in Tamil Nadu to be Operational by September 2026.

National | Dated: 22 Apr 2025

According to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, India’s first 500 MegaWatt (MW) Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) located at Kalpakkam, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is expected to attain first criticality by March 2026, with complete operationalisation targeted by September 2026. This milestone will mark the second stage of India’s ambitious three-stage nuclear programme, focused on recycling spent fuel to minimize radioactive waste.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - In a significant regulatory step, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) granted approval for the first approach to criticality for the PFBR in July 2024, enabling preparations for nuclear start-up procedures.
  • - The PFBR is India’s first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor to use plutonium-based mixed oxide (MOX) fuel and liquid sodium as coolant. This innovative design will allow the reactor to use and recycle spent fuel from Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)—currently the backbone of India’s nuclear power infrastructure.
  • - The reactor is being developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI), a Chennai-based Public Sector Unit (PSU), which plays a pivotal role in India's advanced nuclear energy initiatives.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The Government of India (GoI) has set an ambitious goal of generating 100 Giga Watt (GW) of electricity from nuclear sources by 2047, as part of its long-term clean energy vision. Currently, India’s total installed nuclear power capacity stands at 8.18 GW.
  • (ii) An additional 7.30 GW of nuclear power projects are either under construction or nearing completion, while 7.00 GW has been approved and is in the pre-project phase. With the completion of these projects, India’s nuclear power capacity is expected to rise to 22.48 GW by 2031–32.
  • (iii) Meanwhile, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has plans to further boost capacity by 15.40 GW through indigenously developed Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and an additional 17.60 GW through Light Water Reactors (LWRs) in collaboration with global partners. This expansion aims to help India reach a total nuclear capacity of 55 GW in the coming decades.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

In which Indian state was India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) recently announced to be operational by September 2026?

Correct Answer: Tamil Nadu

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

  • Chairman : Bhuwan Chandra Pathak
  • Headquarters: Mumbai