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Recently, the Prime Minister of India witnessed the commencement of “core loading” of India's first completely indigenous fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. This marked an important milestone in India’s Nuclear Program and this would pave the way for utilisation of abundant thorium as a fuel in the nuclear reactor. These Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) are part of the second stage of the three-stage nuclear program of India, which is aimed at utilising thorium as fuel and eventually making India self-sufficient in nuclear energy. Stage II utilises plutonium-239 or Pu-239 with uranium-238 or U-238 in a FBR to produce energy and more Pu-239. This Pu-239 will be used as fuel together with thorium-232 or Th-232, in the third stage. This event is the result of India’s decades-long struggle of making a successful working FBR. India has set an ambitious target of achieving nuclear power of 22.48 GW by 2032. Therefore, the successful commencement of the second stage of the nuclear program is crucial for achieving this target.
The FBR are reactors that are deployed in the second stage of the three-stage nuclear program. They use Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) as fuel. This fuel is the combination of the depleted form of Pu-239 from the first stage and U-238. This fuel is loaded into the reactor core and is surrounded by a breeder blanket. This breeder blanket, consisting of U-238, undergoes transmutation to produce more Pu-239 as fuel. Pu-239 produced in stage II along with the thorium or Th-232, will be used in reactors to produce energy and U-233. This U-233 will be used in thorium-based reactors in the third stage.
Sodium in liquid form is used as a coolant in two circuits. It is a highly reactive substance.
In 2003, Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) was set up by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) at Kalpakkam as a special-purpose vehicle. BHAVINI works under the direct control of DAE, and it is entrusted with the construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of FBR. In other words, BHAVINI is entrusted with the implementation of Stage II.
The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, has designed a Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PTBR) with 500 MWe capacity. It is a fully indigenous FBR constructed by BHAVINI at Kalpakkam.
Evolution of Stage II
Working of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PWHRs)
Working of Fast Breeder Reactors
Utilisation of Thorium in Stage III
India has navigated through some tough waters to achieve the desired results in the nuclear energy sector. For India, nuclear energy presents a viable alternative to achieving the twin objectives of energy security and sustainable development. Despite sanctions, unfavourable global conditions, and technological challenges, India has reached the important milestone of entering the second stage of the nuclear program. India affirms its firm commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy to improve the lives of its people. That is why India has set an ambitious target of achieving 22.48 GW of power by 2032 from nuclear energy. This historic milestone will enable the country to achieve this target with significant ease.
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