PM visits Kalpakkam nuclear power plant

Kalpakkam Nuclear power plant

• PM dedicated to the nation’s indigenously developed Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant (DFRP) at IGCAR, Kalpakkam

•  The plant will reprocess spent fuel from the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at the Kalpakkam Atomic power station.

• A Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) is a type of nuclear reactor that uses fast neutrons to cause the fission of uranium-238 (unlike conventional nuclear reactors that use slow neutrons). 

• The term “breeder” refers to the ability of these reactors to produce more fissile material than they consume.

• FBR is the key to India’s three-stage nuclear power programme.

•  It is the only of its kind in the world and is capable of reprocessing both carbide and oxide fuels discharged from the fast reactors.

• FBR is the key to India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. It is the only of its kind in the world and is capable of reprocessing both carbide and oxide fuels discharged from the fast reactors.

• Once commissioned, India will be the second country after Russia to have a commercial operating Fast Breeder Reactor.

Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) 

• Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) is a Government Company under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) incorporated in 2003 as Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956.  

• It was established with the objective of constructing and commissioning the first 500 MWe Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu and to pursue construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of subsequent Fast Breeder Reactors for generation of electricity.