India mulls higher capacity fast reactor

Will be powered by metallic fuel.

India is considering a higher capacity nuclear reactor powered by metallic fuel at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research complex at Kalpakkam.

Analysts said setting up a fast reactor powered by metallic fuel is final. What the government is now discussing is whether to go in for a higher capacity reactor than the 120 MW test reactor that was decided earlier.

They noted there is not much of a difference in the reactor design of a 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor and the proposed metallic fuel reactor. A prototype fast breeder reactor is under construction at Kalpakkam and will be powered by mixed plutonium-uranium oxide fuel.

A fast-breeder reactor unleashes more material for a nuclear fission reaction than it consumes. It is the key to India's three-stage nuclear power program. Metallic fuel has better breeding ratio compared to mixed plutonium-uranium oxide fuel.