India has made tremendous progress toward its long-term energy self-sufficiency after its indigenously created 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu reached criticality—the point at which a nuclear reactor first establishes a controlled and self-sustaining chain reaction.
India’s entry into an exclusive group of nations with sophisticated fast breeder reactor technology—Russia is the only other nation with operational commercial fast breeder reactors—is symbolized by this milestone.
The accomplishment is being seen as a significant step forward in India’s three-step nuclear power program, as conceived by nuclear scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha, who is frequently credited with creating the nation’s nuclear strategy.
By utilizing plutonium-based fuel and breeding additional fissile material, the PFBR is intended to produce more fuel than it consumes, improving India’s long-term energy security prospects.
Furthermore, India’s shift into the second phase of its nuclear program is indicated by the reactor’s criticality.
The initial stage involves using natural uranium as fuel in nuclear reactors, which results in plutonium as a byproduct.
This plutonium is utilized in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) in the second step, according to the research.
It is anticipated that the Kalpakkam reactor will be instrumental in producing Uranium-233 from thorium, paving the way for the program’s third phase, in which India plans to use its enormous thorium resources to generate electricity on a large scale.
In addition, India’s uranium deposits are comparatively little, but it has some of the world’s biggest thorium reserves.
According to the report, thorium-based electricity production may be able to satisfy the nation’s energy requirements for hundreds of years.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the project is also anticipated to help India’s transition to clean energy and its pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
Currently, the nation’s nuclear power generating capacity is 8. 78 GW, which accounts for around 3% of the total electricity produced.
According to the report, India’s installed nuclear capacity is expected to reach 22. 38 GW by 2031–32 due to indigenous 700 MW reactors and future international partnerships utilizing 1,000 MW reactors.