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Kalpakkam nuclear power plant PFBR

Under construction India
Gross capacity
500MW

Kalpakkam nuclear power plant PFBR is a fast reactor unit at Kalpakkam nuclear power plant in India rated at 500 MW gross. It is under construction. Commercial operation began 1 Jan 2026.

Specification
Reactor type Fast reactor (FBR)
ModelPrototype
Size classLarge
CoolantLiquid sodium or lead
ModeratorNone
Gross capacity500MW
Net capacity (reference)470MW
Net capacity (design)470MW
Thermal output1,253MWt
Typical enrichment15–20% fissile, or plutonium
Ownership & location
SiteKalpakkam nuclear power plant
UnitPFBR
CountryIndia
OwnerBharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd100%
OperatorBharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam
Coordinates 12.5531, 80.1733
Fuel chain for this unit
Fuel form
Mixed oxide or metallic fuel
Enrichment
15–20% fissile, or plutonium
Who makes this assembly
Upstream

Enriched fuel means this unit sits downstream of five conversion plants and four enrichment operators holding 88% of world capacity between the top three.

RosatomUrencoCNNCOrano
Conversion
CamecoCNNCConverDynOranoRosatom
Fabricator capability is recorded against reactor type and model line, not against named units — utilities do not publish fuel contracts. See the fuel chain.

Timeline

  1. 23 Oct 2004Construction start
  2. 6 Apr 2026First criticality
  3. 1 Jan 2026Commercial operation

Other units at Kalpakkam nuclear power plant

UnitStatusGross MW
Kalpakkam nuclear power plant FBR 1 Announced 600
Kalpakkam nuclear power plant FBR 2 Announced 600

Other Prototype units

5 units worldwide share this model designation.

UnitCountryStatusGross MW
BR3 nuclear power plant 3 Belgium Retired 12
Carolinas-Virginia Tube Reactor nuclear power plant United States Retired 19
KNK II nuclear power plant Germany Retired 21
Pathfinder nuclear power plant United States Retired 63

Sources