CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR UPSC IAS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the start of fuel loading at the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. Fast breeder reactors form the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme.

1: Dimension: India’s three-stage programmes & Goals

• India has adopted a three-stage nuclear power programme, with the long-term goal of deploying a thorium-based closed nuclear fuel cycle.
  • The first stage involves the use of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), fuelled by natural uranium, and light water reactors.
  • The second stage involves reprocessing used fuel from the first stage to recover the plutonium to fuel FBRs.
  • In stage 3, Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) will burn thorium-plutonium fuels and breed fissile uranium-233.
• The PFBR will initially use a core of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, surrounded by a uranium-238 'blanket', with plans to use a blanket of uranium and thorium to "breed" plutonium and U-233 for use as driver fuels for AHWRs.

2: Dimension: Significance

• The growth of the Indian nuclear power program is imperative to meet the twin goals of energy security and sustainable development.
• As a responsible nuclear power with advanced technology, India remains committed to expand peaceful applications of nuclear technology, both in power and non-power sector, while ensuring the security of nuclear and radiological materials.
• Once commissioned, India will be the second country after Russia to have a commercially operating fast breeder reactor. Many countries, including the US, Japan and France, have tried developing fast breeder reactors and have given up due to repeated failure to safely handle liquid sodium.