Indian regulatory authorities have given approval for the start of construction of a 500 MW fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam. The unit, which is expected to be ready for operation in 2009, will be fuelled with uranium-plutonium carbide surrounded by a thorium blanket to breed fissile uranium 233. It is India’s intention to develop a ‘thorium fuelled reactor; such a reactor actually utilises U-233, but would exploit the country’s plentiful thorium reserves. A small fast-breeder reactor has been operating at Kalpakkam since 1985.
