Dr SC Chetal, a key figure in India’s fast breeder reactor programme, says the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) achieving criticality marks a major indigenous breakthrough. He argues it strengthens India’s “second-stage” nuclear energy roadmap, where fast breeder technology is expected to play a central role in expanding long-term nuclear power ambitions.
India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam reached first criticality on April 6, 2026, placing it alongside Russia as the second country to operate a commercial-level fast breeder reactor. The milestone begins Stage II of India’s three-stage nuclear plan, using MOX fuel to breed more fuel than it consumes and paving the way for a thorium-driven future.
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