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PFBR Kalpakkam: BHAVINI marks Formation Day after first criticality of 500 MW reactor

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Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), which built the PFBR Kalpakkam project, celebrated its Company Formation Day and reaffirmed its commitment to the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in Tamil Nadu, PIB said on 22 October 2026.

PFBR Kalpakkam: BHAVINI Company Formation Day celebration with officials on stage at Kalpakkam
BHAVINI Company Formation Day celebration with officials on stage at Kalpakkam Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

PFBR Kalpakkam: where the reactor stands

The 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) was designed indigenously by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and built and commissioned by BHAVINI, PIB said. It recently attained first criticality, the point at which a sustained nuclear chain reaction begins, and completed the Low Power Physics Experiments. On Formation Day, BHAVINI said it would pursue its next objectives of raising power and synchronising the reactor with the grid. A fast breeder reactor is designed to produce more fissile material than it consumes, which is why the PFBR is seen as an important step in India’s nuclear power programme.

Key Facts

  • Reactor: 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu
  • Design: IGCAR; built and commissioned by BHAVINI
  • Status: first criticality reached; Low Power Physics Experiments completed
  • Next: raise power and synchronise to the grid
  • Guest of Honour: Dr Sudha Seshayyan

Who attended the BHAVINI celebration

The event was presided over by P. A. Suresh Babu, Distinguished Scientist and Chairman and Managing Director of BHAVINI, along with other functional directors, according to PIB. Sreekumar G. Pillai, Director of IGCAR, and S. B. Selvakumaran, Station Director of the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), also attended. Dr Sudha Seshayyan, former Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University and an Independent Director on the BHAVINI board, was the Guest of Honour. PIB said their presence underscored the importance of collaboration and collective effort in advancing the nation’s nuclear energy programme. Employees showcased their talents through cultural and creative performances during the celebration, adding colour to the occasion. PIB said the event brought together employees and distinguished guests in a spirit of unity and pride, and recognised the dedication of BHAVINI’s workforce over the years.

Energy security and the next steps

The celebration was a chance to reflect on BHAVINI’s journey, recognise its workforce and reaffirm the company’s commitment to the successful completion of the PFBR project, PIB said. BHAVINI said it would foster teamwork and continuous improvement and contribute to the nation’s vision of energy security and self-reliance. It said it remains committed to excellence in nuclear technology, to meeting the PFBR project’s objectives and to advancing India’s nuclear energy capabilities for future generations. PIB did not give a date for grid synchronisation. The next milestones named in the release are raising the reactor’s power and connecting it to the grid. Once synchronised, the 500 MW unit would feed electricity into the grid from Kalpakkam, where IGCAR and the Madras Atomic Power Station are also located, as the attendance of their heads at the event showed.

Why It Matters: The PFBR is India's first prototype fast breeder reactor, and bringing it to full power is a key step for the country's long-term nuclear energy plans.

Also on TrendDesh: IBSAMAR IX ends at Simon's Town as India, Brazil and South Africa navies wrap up 10 days of drills · NASA GRACE map shows groundwater in northern India falling faster than earlier estimates

Source: PIB Chennai, 22 Oct 2026 · Department of Atomic Energy · IGCAR Kalpakkam

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