by BHAVINI / IGCAR (India DAE)IN
Demonstrate commercial-scale fast breeder reactor operation in India, prove plutonium breeding technology, and enable the transition to stage 2 of India's long-term nuclear fuel cycle strategy using thorium.
First criticality 6 Apr 2026 at 8:25 PM IST. Construction completed Mar 4, 2024 after 20 years.
Updated 6 Apr 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week
Fast reactors use high-energy neutrons to split atoms and convert non-fissile U-238 into fissile Pu-239.
Sodium transfers heat efficiently and allows high core temperatures (550°C outlet) and power density.
Spent fuel is reprocessed to separate plutonium and uranium, which are refabricated into new MOX fuel for the PFBR, closing the cycle and minimizing waste.
| Spec | Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), Kalpakkam |
|---|---|
| Electrical capacity | 500 MWeR (reported) |
| Thermal power | 1,253 MWtR (reported) |
| Primary coolant | Liquid sodiumR (reported) |
| Design life | 40 yearsR (reported) |
R reported by the company
BHAVINI / IGCAR (India DAE)
Fast breeder reactor, sodium-cooled, India thorium program, government
BHAVINI is India's public-sector nuclear operator; IGCAR designed the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor. Achieved first criticality April 2026, entering stage 2 of India's three-stage thorium nuclear program.
