CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
India is poised to make a significant leap in its nuclear energy journey with the expected commissioning of the country’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, by 2026. This milestone will mark the beginning of the second stage of India’s ambitious three-stage nuclear power programme, which aims for energy sustainability through indigenous technology and fuel resources.
About Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)
The PFBR is a 500 MWe (megawatt electric) reactor that uses fast neutrons and liquid sodium as a coolant, distinguishing it from conventional reactors that rely on thermal neutrons and water-based cooling systems. Developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), a public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), this reactor represents a critical step in India’s effort to develop a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
Construction of the PFBR began in 2004, and while its commissioning faced multiple delays from its original 2010 target, the project is now nearing completion. The PFBR is designed to be fuel-efficient, as it can generate more fissile material (plutonium-239) than it consumes, thus the term "breeder reactor."
The reactor uses a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel comprising plutonium and uranium, which enhances energy output while ensuring greater resource utilisation. Its sodium-cooled design allows it to operate at higher temperatures, improving thermal efficiency. Additionally, the reactor incorporates multiple safety systems, including passive cooling features and a robust containment structure, ensuring safety during operations and in the event of emergencies.
India Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme
India’s nuclear energy roadmap is structured into three progressive stages, each designed to efficiently utilise the country’s limited uranium resources and vast reserves of thorium.
Stage 1 – Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs): This stage involves the deployment of PHWRs and Light Water Reactors (LWRs) that use natural uranium as fuel. The reactors produce electricity and generate plutonium-239 as a by-product, which is essential for the next phase.
Stage 2 – Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs): In this stage, plutonium recovered from the spent fuel of PHWRs is used in FBRs like the PFBR. These reactors not only produce electricity but also breed more fissile material from fertile uranium-238, significantly improving fuel sustainability.
Stage 3 – Thorium-Based Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs): The final stage envisions the use of thorium, an abundantly available resource in India, to produce uranium-233 through breeding. AHWRs will operate on a thorium-plutonium or thorium-uranium fuel cycle, completing the closed fuel loop and enabling energy self-sufficiency.
National Importance
The commissioning of the PFBR is a pivotal moment for India’s energy future. It showcases the country's capability to develop complex nuclear technologies and contributes to reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Moreover, the successful operation of the PFBR will lay the groundwork for future FBRs and eventually lead to the deployment of thorium reactors, capitalising on India’s rich thorium reserves.
The PFBR is not just a technological achievement it is a cornerstone of India's vision for clean, reliable, and self-reliant energy.
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