India’s first Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility (FRFCF) involving an outlay of around Rs.9,600 crore got Centre’s nod recently, for it to be set up in Kalpakkam, as per R.K Sinha, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Work on the project is expected to commence later this year.
The facility will cater to the upcoming Rs.5,677 crore 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam.
A fast-breeder reactor is one which breeds more material for a nuclear fission reaction than it consumes. It is the key to India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. A fuel cycle facility near the PFBR eliminates the transport risk of fuel bundles. For the fuel reprocessing facility to be functional, the PFBR should first go on stream which is expected to happen next year. The fuel reprocessing facility, with little augmentation, can also cater to the needs of two more fast breeder reactors of similar nature planned at Kalpakkam.
The PFBR uses plutonium-based fuel, which is an important resource for India, and cannot be wasted. It is a high-value project and has to be done on time so that PFBR is not constrained for fuel.
Officials said the fuel cycle facility may come under a separate board as many units of DAE like the Nuclear Fuel Complex and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) will be involved in the proposed project. Tasked with the mandate of developing fast-breeder reactors, IGCAR will be steering the project. The fuel cycle facility might employ around 1,500 people and may take four to five years to come into play. Till then, PFBR will be storing the fuel at its complex.