Apparently the fast breeder isn't quite a mature technology and has prohibitive operational costs, as well as risks, which is why advanced countries like Japan have shut down the reactors they built quite a few years back.
Not sure if the govt and the Nuclear agency of India want to go ahead since they know that building fast breeders from scratch, in a cost effective and safe manner is tough.
Just read this somewhere recently, so pointing it out. If India can build fast breeders where others failed, nothing like it, it should make India a world leader.
RE:Future plan has doubts cast over it
by Sanjay on Jan 29, 2008 08:06 AM Permalink
India has been operating fast breeder since 80's this will be first commercial scale breeder. Fast breeder technology means fuel eventually free. All safety and other measures, review processes were done before making this reactor well studied, not like the experiments they put up in the west.
Since 1996 India is operating the only reactor that uses U233 fuel, a fuel made from thorium.
So in 11th plan they are making an advance heavy water reactor which has won many awards internationally, for its clean, safe technology, as reactor of the future.
Forth, India is also designed a fast breeder reactor that utilizes thorium, which has won many praises internationally. This will be built in later plans.
Only reason I can think of having inspection is to cap the program, and make it dependent on west..As we should wait till our commercial scale fast breeder is working as to have the upperhand in deal.
