Prototype Fast breeder reactor to become operational by September 2026

New Delhi: With the Union government focusing big on nuclear energy, the Department of Atomic Energy plans to construct five small modular reactors (SMR) by 2033, but completion of the long-awaited 500 MW fast breeder reactor (FBR) is likely only by September 2026 – two years after regulatory approvals were obtained to operationalise the first commercial-scale FBR.

The 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam near Chennai is expected to attain first criticality by March 2026 while completion of the reactor is likely by September 2026, according to the DAE officials.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board in July 2024 gave its go ahead to the “first approach to criticality” for the PFBR, located at Kalpakkam near Chennai.

Once functional, the 500 MW prototype reactor will herald India’s entry into the second phase of the three-phase nuclear power programme as envisaged by Homi Bhabha more than 70 years ago.

During a recent review of the Department of Atomic Energy’s budgetary allocation, the officials told a panel of lawmakers about the time schedule for FBR completion.

But the report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology – tabled in the House last month – doesn’t share details on why it would take two years to operationalise the breeder reactor after loading the fuel and getting the regulatory nod.

The officials said 500 MW PFBR was in the advanced stage of integrated commissioning, with expected first criticality by March 2026. Criticality is the establishment of a sustained nuclear chain reaction generating electricity and it may take a few more months from the day of criticality to connect the reactor to the commercial electricity grid.

The PFBR is a first-of-its-kind reactor, designed to utilise plutonium-based mixed oxide fuel and sodium as a coolant, paving the way for large-scale deployment of fast breeder reactors (which breed more fuel than what they consume) in India.

On the small modular reactors the DAE officials said a Rs 20,000 crore programme was launched, aiming to build at least five indigenously developed SMRs by 2033. This would include development of bharat small modular reactors, gas-cooled micro modular reactors and 50 MWe SMRs.

Such reactors would play a big role in realising the Union government’s ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of energy from the nuclear sector by 2047. As per the existing plans, more than 40 GW of N-power will come from the SMR.

The SMRs, according to the DAE officials, will be developed keeping in mind three broad purposes: (i) re-purposing of the ageing thermal power plants (ii) captive power generation aimed at the energy intensive domestic heavy industry such as steel and aluminium industry (iii) small power plants, typical of about 50 MWe for remote locations.