Kalpakkam reactor’s milestone a proud moment for India, says A.P. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday lauded India’s scientific community following the successful attainment of criticality by the indigenously-built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam.

In his message on X, Mr. Naidu described the development as a “proud moment for every Indian,” and said it marked a key step in the second stage of India’s nuclear programme. He noted that the milestone brought the country closer to harnessing its vast thorium reserves in the third stage and strengthened the path towards long-term energy security. He also credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated the scientists and engineers on their achievement.

Giant leap: Jagan

In his message, YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated the scientists and engineers of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited, and the Department of Atomic Energy, and termed the reactor’s first criticality as a “historic milestone” and a “giant leap” in India’s nuclear journey. He said the 500 MW reactor represented a major step towards ensuring clean, secure energy for the future generations and moving closer to achieving energy self-reliance by effectively utilising the country’s thorium reserves.