PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROTOTYPE FAST BREEDER REACTOR

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) built at Kalpakkam achieved its first criticality on 6 April 2026, marking a key step in India’s three‑stage nuclear power programme. The PFBR, the first commercial fast reactor in India, uses MOX fuel and a U‑238 blanket to breed more fissile material than it consumes. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) provided comprehensive engineering, material, equipment, design, safety, and commissioning support, achieving nearly 90 % domestic manufacturing. The reactor’s success underpins the planned expansion of fast‑breeder and PHWR capacity, projected to raise total installed capacity from 8 780 MW to 22 480 MW by 2031/32, enhancing long‑term energy security.