New epoch in civil nuclear programme: Shah on Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor attaining criticality

NEW DELHI: (Apr 7) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday congratulated scientists for building the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam as it attained criticality, a development he described as a "new epoch" in India's civil nuclear programme.

India's 500 Mwe-Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam achieved first criticality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday.

First criticality in a fast breeder reactor is the moment when the nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining.