An overview of R and D on Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle

The growth of nuclear power in our country is closely linked to our ability to produce nuclear energy at a cost comparable to, and possibly lower than other routes. For meeting this goal, it is necessary to adopt fabrication, reprocessing and waste management technologies which have minimum impact on the environment, and are economical and safe. For rapid and sustainable expansion of nuclear power, the total inventory of fuel associated with a reactor fuel cycle has to be kept low; this would mean that we irradiate fuels to high burn-up values, and also adopt technologies which enable processing of fuel with minimum cooling period. The development of fast reactor fuel cycle, which is economical and which has the capability to realize high burn-ups and breeding of fuel is essential for the rapid growth of nuclear power in our country. A systematic, multi-disciplinary, long-term approach is necessary to realize this goal. The experience so far generated in fast reactor fuel cycle would serve as a good foundation for planning the future programmes, and it can be optimistically stated that 25 years from now, the fast reactors would make a major contribution to the nuclear power scenario in our country as well as internationally