PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROTOTYPE FAST BREEDER REACTOR

The article details the successful attainment of 'first criticality' by India's indigenously designed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. This marks a significant milestone in Dr. Homi J. Bhabha's three-stage nuclear power programme, positioning PFBR as a cornerstone for the second stage. The PFBR uses Uranium–Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel and a Uranium-238 blanket to breed more fissile Plutonium-239 than it consumes, and is designed to eventually use Thorium-232 for the third stage. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) was the principal architect, contributing significantly to engineering, materials, safety, indigenization (nearly 90% domestic manufacturing), and commissioning. The article also provides an update on the implementation of 10 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and projected nuclear power capacity by 2031/32. It highlights India's closed fuel cycle approach for optimal utilization of uranium and thorium reserves, and the role of the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) in augmenting uranium resources using advanced techniques.