In a landmark development on 7th March 2022, India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) announced that its Fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) attained full design power of 40 MWth . This occasion gains more significance as experience and expertise gained from FBTR will be utilized for developing commercial Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR), which will drive the stage-II of Indian Nuclear Program. The Fast Breeder Reacrors programme was started with the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at IGCAR, Kalpakkam.
India’s three-stage nuclear power programme is based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The three stages are:
- Natural uranium fuelled Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)
- Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) utilising plutonium based fuel
- Advanced nuclear power systems for utilisation of thorium
According to Yukia Amano, Former Director General of IAEA “fast reactors are far safer and can help extract up to 70% more energy than traditional reactors while reducing long lived radioactive waste by several fold.” Thus with higher passivity, more fuel efficiency and reduced waste footprints, FBR technology is a bridge to the future and has the potential to supply almost unlimited supply of electricity.
Indian nuclear stakeholders from across the supply chain will provide more insights on the current and future developments in the Indian nuclear market during next month’s India NBP Lite virtual industry meeting.
