PFBR at Kalpakkam Achieves Criticality, Launching Second Stage of India’s Nuclear Power Programme
In a landmark development for India’s nuclear energy sector, the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam achieved criticality on April 6, 2026, at 8:25 PM. This significant milestone marks the formal commencement of the second stage of India’s ambitious three-stage nuclear power programme.
The PFBR plays a crucial role in India’s strategy to maximize the use of its nuclear fuel resources, particularly by enabling the generation of more fissile material than it consumes. This advancement is expected to strengthen the country’s long-term energy security and sustainability goals.
A key contributor to this achievement is the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), which has been associated with the PFBR programme since its early stages. NFC has supplied all the structural materials required for the reactor’s fuel and various core sub-assemblies. These critical components have been fully indigenized, ensuring reliable supply for both initial operations and future reactor requirements.
In addition to core components, NFC also manufactured and supplied long-length tubing for the reactor’s steam generators—an essential system operating under high-temperature conditions. The successful production of such complex components underscores India’s growing technological capabilities in the nuclear sector.
This achievement highlights the nation’s progress toward self-reliance in the manufacturing of nuclear reactor components, both core and out-of-core. It represents a major step forward in strengthening India’s indigenous nuclear power infrastructure and reinforces its position among advanced nuclear technology nations.
