With the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor ( 500 MWe) at Kalpakkam set to go critical by March-April 2016, plans are afoot to set up six more Fast Breeder Reactors in the country in a phased manner over the next 15 years.
This was stated by P. Chellapandi, CMD of BHAVINI ( Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited), the public sector undertaking responsible for constructing, commissioning and operating FBRs in the country.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an international conference on “Characterisation and Quality Control of Nuclear Fuels”, he said that based on the performance of Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor for one year, two more 600 MWe reactors were being planned at Kalpakkam and the government would be approached for sanctioning them. Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), S.A. Bhardwaj said the world was looking for other energy alternatives to limit global warming and nuclear was gaining wider recognition. He said that 437 nuclear reactors were operating world over currently and they met 11 per cent of the electricity by producing 2,400 billion units. He said nuclear fuel emerges as solution to provide a major fraction of electricity for a country like India with large population and acute electricity shortage. Nuclear energy ensured long-term energy availability in a carbon-free process.
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With regard to safety, he said Pressurised Heavy Water and Light Water Reactors in the country right from their inception had safety features. The buildings housing the nuclear reactors were also built to ensure that there was zero-leakage.
Prototype reactor at Kalpakkam set to go critical by March-April 2016