Chennai, April 7 -- The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) announced that in a landmark achievement for India's nuclear energy programme, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has successfully attained first criticality (start of controlled fission chain reaction) at IGCAR campus in Kalpakkam, about 70 km from here.
The indigenously built PFBR attained criticality yesterday night (April 6, 2026) at 2026 hrs marking a historic step in providing long term energy security and advancing indigenous nuclear technology capabilities.
The DAE in a release here on Tuesday said the criticality was achieved in the presence of Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, DAE and Chairman, AEC, Sreekumar G Pillai, Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Ato...