Fast-breeder reactor crucial for long-term energy security: Experts

“China has a small programme on fast breeders. Japan, France, the US had this (fast breeder reactors), but due to anxiety over nuclear energy, several programmes have been shut down,” Kakodkar told PTI.

Former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Ratan Kumar Sinha said India’s PFBR has taken a long time in the development stage and was first of its kind to have breeding.

Sinha said the fast-breeder reactors use depleted uranium (U-238) and plutonium (Pu-239) to produce energy and more fuel, hence the name breeder reactor.

Sinha said the fast breeder reactors formed the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear programme, which would allow the use of thorium for the next generation of reactors.

Kakodkar said India has massive thorium resources and harnessing the same was necessary for long-term energy security.

“Well, the point is that nuclear power is becoming increasingly important for our energy security, particularly in the context of clean energy transition,” he said.

“Therefore in terms of technology, it (PFBR) is a major advancement even by global standards because it is a large reactor 500 MWe and it is extremely important for long-term energy security of India,” he said.

Kakodkar said the India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation opened the doors for India to buy uranium for its domestic reactors.

“We are able to expand the nuclear programme now. Importing uranium contributes more to energy security than importing fossil energy,” he said.

India aims to increase the share of nuclear power in its energy mix by 2032 and has approved construction of 10 PHWRs in fleet mode. By 2032, India is looking forward to producing 22.4 GWe power from its nuclear power plants.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the initiation of core loading at the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu last week.