Fast Breeder Reactor prototpe to be ready by 2010
Dated 28/8/2006
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A prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) that can produce 500 megawatts of electricity is said to begin functioning at Kalpakkam before 2010, Baldev Raj, Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), said Coimbatore on Monday.
Mr. Raj told media persons at the PSG College of Technology that construction work on the reactor was going on ahead of schedule. The reactor was expected to supply electricity to the State grid at Rs. 3.22 a kilowatt hour (kwhr) or 'unit'. Advanced reactors can produce electricity at Rs. 2 a kwhr.
To cater to the increasing energy needs, there were plans to establish four more nuclear reactors. Using current technology, it could generate up to 500 giga watts.
All conventional energy sources in the country would not be enough to meet expected future requirements, so there was need to concentrate on nuclear energy.
In light of the recent Indo-US Nuclear Deal, the FBR is said to be outside the civilian list of reactors, which means it is not to be inspected by IAEA officials.
