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If reports are to be believed, <keyword id="2707285" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Nabhikiya-Vidyut-Nigam-Limited">Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited</keyword> (<keyword id="2263493" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhavini">BHAVINI</keyword>), which is the implementing arm of the Department of Atomic Energy, is planning to construct six new <keyword id="3157588" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fast-Breeder-Reactors">Fast Breeder Reactors</keyword> (FBRs) over the next 15 years. 
 India's first 500-MWe <keyword id="1810440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prototype-fast-breeder-reactor">Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor</keyword> (<keyword id="81647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="PFBR">PFBR</keyword>), situated at Kalpakkam, around 70 km from Chennai, is expected to become critical in March or April next year, as per <keyword id="2707284" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="P-Chellapandi">P Chellapandi</keyword>, BHAVINI’s Chairman and Managing Director. 
 
Chellapandi was speaking to reporters on sidelines of an International Conference, which is organised by Nuclear Fuel Complex. He further continued, "We are planning two more reactors. Once after one year of successful operation of this PFBR, we have to watch, then we will seek government sanction for construction of two 600 MW reactors at Kalpakkam. With the two proposed 600 MWs, we are optimising and constructing higher power with same costs." 
 
"Afterwards we have to think of new places for putting four more units. The site selection committee is choosing some places and are studying suitable size. Immediate vision is to construct two FBRs at Kalpakkam and four more beyond 2030," Chellapandi added. 
 The construction of PFBR, which is designed by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, is over and is impending clearance from the <keyword id="6540613" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atomic-Energy-Regulatory-Board">Atomic Energy Regulatory Board</keyword> (<keyword id="60783" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="AERB">AERB</keyword>) in phases for sodium charging, fuel loading, reactor criticality and power rising (generation). 
 
"AERB had already sent many specialists to the PFBR and we are also going for review process. Some experts are going to meet this month and we are likely to get clearance for sodium charging. After this we have to get clearance for fuel loading and that may happen in January-February and the reactor may become critical in March or April 2016," Chellapandi said. 
 
The prototype fast breeder reactor uses MOX fuel, which is a combination of plutonium and uranium oxide. 
 
"We will replace some bundles with actual fuel bundles then reactor/unit may become critical. By March or April, chain reaction will be sustained. It will be neutronically commissioned (by putting fuel and generating power) by April," he said. 
 
<a href="http://cdn.youthkiawaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/26/heres-must-say-nuclear-energy-india/nuclear-plant.jpg">Image source</a>

Clean Energy Push: Six more nuclear reactors to be added to India’s fleet of 21

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>'s rapid military expansion in recent years has alarmed other countries.</li><li>China's nuclear arsenal is much smaller than the US's, but US officials are warning about its growth.</li></ul>The US Department of Defense's <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/03/2002885874/-1/-1/0/2021-CMPR-FINAL.PDF" target="_top">annual report</a> on China's military, released in November, again illustrated the breathtaking pace and scale of China's conventional military modernization.This year's report also highlighted a number of developments that could threaten the US more directly than China's conventional forces — namely China's "large-scale expansion of its nuclear forces."That expansion is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/china-nuclear-missile-silos/2021/06/30/0fa8debc-d9c2-11eb-bb9e-70fda8c37057_story.html" target="_top">well documented</a>. The Pentagon's 2020 report on China's military noted that Beijing's stockpile of nuclear warheads would at least double by the end of the decade.But this year's report includes a more urgent message: China "has accelerated its nuclear expansion" and is "exceeding the pace and size the DoD projected in 2020," the Pentagon says.This month, a Chinese arms-control official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-beijing-7b1cc3db0e3ea4136dc8030e177dfa7d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denied</a> those assertions, but Beijing's work is still seen as troubling. It's also a reminder of just how small China's nuclear arsenal was and is compared to other major powers, and it shows how dramatically Chinese thinking about <keyword id="12257805" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nuclear-weapons" source="Orion">nuclear weapons</keyword> has shifted in recent years.<h2>A smaller arsenal</h2><div type="image" title="China Lop Nur nuclear weapons test" height="1457" width="1942" msid="88700024" hostid="261"></div>The Pentagon estimates that China's stockpile of nuclear warheads is in the "low-200s," though <a href="https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Nuclearweaponswhohaswhat" target="_top">others</a> put it as high as 350.By comparison, the US and Russia are believed to have 5,550 and 6,225 warheads, respectively, though they have <a href="https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/NewSTART" target="_top">agreed to limits</a> on how many can be deployed.The lower estimate isn't that much larger than other nuclear powers. The UK is believed to have 225 warheads, France 290, India 156, and Pakistan 165. Israel and North Korea are believed to have stockpiles ranging from several dozen to a few hundred warheads.China's smaller arsenal is in part a legacy of Sino-Soviet dynamics during the Cold War.China initially received <a href="https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/chinese-nuclear-program" target="_top">extensive help</a> on its nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fighting-over-dispute-border-island-risked-chinese-soviet-nuclear-war-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">but the Sino-Soviet split in the late 1950s</a> left China on its own. Beijing detonated its first nuclear weapon <a href="https://www.ctbto.org/specials/testing-times/16-october-1964-first-chinese-nuclear-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 1964</a> and its first thermonuclear weapon <a href="https://www.ctbto.org/specials/testing-times/16-october-1964-first-chinese-nuclear-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 1967</a>.While other powers developed multiple delivery systems — the air-, ground-, and sea-launched weapons of the nuclear triad — Beijing initially struggled to do so, and the high cost of such weapons further limited how many China, then one of the poorest countries in the world, could make.Moreover, the need to modernize its military in the face of more <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fighting-over-dispute-border-island-risked-chinese-soviet-nuclear-war-2021-3" target="_top">immediate</a> conventional <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-china-war-with-vietnam-means-for-its-next-war-2021-3" target="_top">threats</a> limited the resources China could spare on nuclear weapons. China also adopted a "no first use" policy, essentially precluding their use as offensive weapons."Given limited defense resources, the Chinese mainly focused on conventional forces and the modernization of a small deterrent nuclear force," Timothy Heath, a senior <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international" source="Orion">international</keyword> and defense researcher at the RAND Corporation think tank, told Insider.<h2>Nuclear buildup</h2><div type="image" title="ICBM silo construction in China" height="2250" width="4000" msid="88700025" hostid="261"></div>As the Cold War ended, China's threat perception changed. The Soviets disappeared, while the US became something of a partner.Those shifts in the 1990s and early 2000s allowed China to become the world's second largest economy, which in turn enabled its immense military modernization effort. China first focused on conventional capabilities, but that effort has expanded."There is plenty of money available to buy fancy platforms like stealth aircraft, aircraft carriers, and a much larger nuclear arsenal," Heath said.The Pentagon says China hopes to have 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027 and at least 1,000 warheads by 2030. According to the report, China is constructing "fast breeder reactors and reprocessing facilities" that will increase its capacity to produce plutonium to support this expansion.China's is also expanding and modernizing all legs of its nuclear triad.<div type="image" title="Chinese navy Type 094A Jin-class submarine" height="1333" width="2000" msid="88700026" hostid="261"></div>It is building more silos on the ground and increasing its <keyword id="12338392" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="icbm" source="Orion">ICBM</keyword> arsenal, currently estimated to number about 100. In 2020, China launched over 250 ballistic missiles, exceeding the total launched in 2018 and 2019.The Chinese are also implementing a launch-on-warning posture they call "early warning counterstrike," which relies on large ground-based <a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/china/lpar-x.htm" target="_top">phase-array radars</a> and geostationary early-warning satellites, at least one of which is already in orbit.China's navy is adding more <a href="http://www.military-today.com/navy/jin_class.htm" target="_top">Type 094 Jin-class</a> nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines. Type 094 subs are armed with JL-2 sub-launched ballistic missiles, the range of which requires the subs to operate around Hawaii in order to reach the continental US.But, according to the Pentagon, China is working on a newer sub, the Type 096, to pair with a new missile, the <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/jl-3-chinas-third-generation-nuclear-missile-sub-killer-180433" target="_top">JL-3</a>, that could reach the US mainland from Chinese waters.China's air force has adopted the H-6N, the latest variant of its H-6 strategic bomber. The H-6N can conduct aerial refueling, which extends its range, and carry air-launched ballistic missiles. Last year, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-air-force-navy-combat-aircraft-catching-up-to-west-2021-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an H-6N was spotted carrying</a> what was believed to be a hypersonic missile.<h2>Deterrence</h2><div type="image" title="icbm minuteman" height="1315" width="2000" msid="88700027" hostid="261"></div>The overarching goal of China's military modernization is to reach parity and establish deterrence with the US.China fears the US — with more nuclear weapons and a mature triad — could launch a preemptive strike against China's nuclear arsenal and launch capabilities, leaving China without adequate defenses. This has led Beijing to pursue more weapons and delivery systems so it has enough to survive an attack and to overcome US missile defenses."What they are trying to do is build enough missiles on enough platforms that the Chinese can be absolutely confident that they can get missiles past US defenses and strike US territory in the event of nuclear war," Heath said. "The Chinese hope to make it impossible for the US to be confident it can carry out a preemptive strike that annihilates China's nuclear capabilities."The US has <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3160166/us-again-calls-arms-control-talks-china-amid-concern-over" target="_top">called on</a> China to join talks on an arms-control agreement similar to those between the US and Russia, but Beijing has shown no interest, pointing to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-beijing-7b1cc3db0e3ea4136dc8030e177dfa7d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the US's larger stockpile</a> and lack of a "<a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3153387/china-backs-no-first-use-nuclear-policy-calls-nations-cut" target="_top">no first use</a>" policy.While the expansion of its nuclear arsenal may be the clearest example of China's preparation for a potential conflict, it's just one element of a broader buildup that troubles military officials and policymakers."It's important to see the modernizing nuclear arsenal as part of the bigger picture, in which the Chinese are building up their military capabilities in <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/05/space-force-china-military-523769" target="_top">space</a>, <a href="https://www.cfr.org/blog/dods-2021-china-military-power-report-how-advances-ai-and-emerging-technologies-will-shape" target="_top">cyberspace</a>, and in the conventional force," Heath said. "It's all happening at the same time."

Why China changed its mind about nuclear weapons and is bulking up its arsenal at 'accelerated' pace

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>The&#xa0; SNR-300&#xa0;was supposed to be Germany's&#xa0;first fast breeder nuclear reactor when <a href="http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/06/wunderland-kalkar-nuclear-power-plant.html">construction began in 1972.</a>&#xa0;The reactor was made&#xa0;to use plutonium as fuel, and it would output 327 megawatts of energy.Built in Kalkar, the government had some concerns about the safety of the nuclear reactor, which delayed construction. The power plant was finished in 1985 - <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/nuclear-power-plant-theme-park/20068/">$5.3 billion later.</a>But after the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-chernobyl-looks-like-today-2016-3">Chernobyl disaster</a>&#xa0;in 1986, the SNR-300 never got a chance to fully operate, and by 1991 the project was officially canceled. This left the power plant completely unused, and it was eventually sold to a Dutch investor who decided to turn it into an amusement park: <a href="https://www.wunderlandkalkar.eu/en">Wunderland Kalkar</a>.&#xa0;&#xa0;

This failed $5.3 billion nuclear power plant in Germany is now an amusement park that gets hundreds of thousands of visitors each year

The global nuclear industry is going through a virtual meltdown on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, according to PTI. 
 
This is happening even as India is investing heavily in nuclear energy. This collapse of atomic giants offers New Delhi a new opportunity and many in the Indian atomic establishment are silently celebrating this premature death of suitors who were wooing to put tens of atomic plants in India estimated to cost at least USD 150 billion. 
 
"This atomic meltdown is a blessing in disguise" was how a top government official described the unfolding scenario. 
In addition, in these changed circumstances, if the Indian private industry plays its cards right, it could also provide an opportunity to the country to become a hub for low cost suppliers of nuclear technology. A little far-fetched but who knows how energy games get played in the future. 
 
In a way the diplomatic noose that had been tightened around India's neck to buy super expensive French and American nuclear reactors has on its own been loosened if not shed at all. 
 
As part of the protracted global negotiations on admitting India back into the nuclear commerce club, a kind of barter deal had happened and India had committed itself to buy French and American reactors, but now that the commercial operations of at least two of the foreign giants is floundering, India need not back down from its commercial commitments. 
 
India can retain the moral high ground of wanting to buy the French and American reactors but since the companies themselves are in trouble no deals can be inked. India can once again hope to forge its own nuclear path free of shackles of forced imports of untested technologies. 
The American atomic giant Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC filed for 'bankruptcy' a week ago, last year the French nuclear giant Areva went through a similar process. 
 
Both these companies had shown aggressive interest in setting up atomic power plants soon after the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal was inked. Both wanted a large chunk of the nuclear commerce worth billions of dollars that India was holding out as a promise once New Delhi was extricated from the atomic dog-house as a consequence of the landmark Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. 
All along as negotiations were going on around the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, there was a small but influential group in the Indian nuclear establishment that was most uncomfortable at importing so many different types of reactors. 
 
This group felt that since India had mastered the making of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR's) the effort should ideally be to multiple this technology while alongside India's futuristic reactors the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor which uses plutonium as its main fuel and the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor that uses thorium as its main fuel could be promoted. 
 
Jairam Ramesh, the engineer-turned-influential politician in the United Progressive Alliance government, was an early opponent of importing so many different types of reactors. 
 
Towards mastering the PHWR, India on its own first enhanced the capacity of these reactors from 220 MW to 540 MW by constructing two of them at Tarapur in Maharashtra and then the same reactor has been modified to enhance the capacity to 700 MW with four units already under construction at Kakrapar and Rawatbhatta. 
 
Among imported reactors India successfully started commercial operation of two 1000 MW units at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu these are made with Russian help. In the Indian nuclear establishment some felt the Russian reactors and the Indian three stage program was more than enough to ensure long term energy security for the country. 
 
Mastering several different technologies is a complex task and there was a lot of consternation among several senior scientists that if the entire Indo-US civilian nuclear deal were to be implemented then at least three new reactor types would have to mastered. 
These included Areva proposing to put six atomic plants each of 1650 MW capacity at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Westinghouse was wanting to sell at least 6 reactors of 1200 MW each to be put up at Kovadda in Andhra Pradesh -- these were initially proposed to be put up at Mithivirdi in Gujarat but land acquisition issues forced Westinghouse to opt for a different site. 
 
General Electric was proposing to put a mega nuclear park as well. Each of these three different reactors are very different from each other and an entirely new set of people would have to be trained to safely operate these. 
 
Typically each new reactor operates for 60 years and then it takes another couple of decades to safely decommission them hence the investment of human resources is a commitment of at least a century. 
 
With Westinghouse filing for bankruptcy it is highly unlikely that India would order any reactors from them anytime soon. The idea was to order in one go 6 nuclear plants that would be delivered on a 'turnkey' basis. Now that Westinghouse itself says it can only supply the technology for the nuclear island and does not want to undertake any construction activity. 
 
Despite the fact India has already committed to pay Rs 100 crore to Westinghouse while ordering the AP 1000 reactors. These orders may obviously go into cold storage till Westinghouse and Toshiba its parent company in Japan iron out their differences. 
Westinghouse denies that the India project is derailed but experts say expect delays galore. 
 
Similarly, Areva the French giant that owned all the nuclear technology for the EPR 1650 MW reactor having been almost dissolved and the affairs taken over by 'Electricite de France' or EDF the French electricity utility, these reactors for which quite a bit of ground work was already done at Jaitapur has also been cold shouldered since no buyer government would want to get involved when a messy fight is ongoing in the French public sector companies on ownership of the atomic plants. 
 
On its own General Electric has been dragging its feet on bidding for reactors in India since its lawyers felt India's nuclear liability law was more 'people friendly' as opposed to the usual global nuclear liability law that is 'industry friendly'. 
 
In this scenario India is left with no other option but to multiply its indigenous fleet of 700 MW PHWR's and simultaneously expand its collaboration with Russia to buy at least 20 more Russian plants similar in nature but probably more advanced than the reactors operating at Kudankulam. 
 
After India was admitted into the nuclear fold to allow global nuclear commerce all restrictions at importing uranium have already gone and if India seeks to multiply manifold its own home grown reactors that should not be difficult. 
In addition since the co-operation with Russia is blossoming more light water reactors could well be ordered from Russia. 
 
This sudden change in the wind direction with American and French nuclear companies all doddering has in way brought India back to where it was in 2004 before US President George Bush decided to shake hands and be friends with India in the nuclear power sector. 
 
At that point India had its PHWR's and the Russian tech but what the country lacked was an assured supply of uranium fuel. India does not have sufficient native resources of uranium and if the nuclear program has to expand then importing uranium was the only option. 
 
Today the supply of imported uranium fuel is well guaranteed under global law thanks to the atomic embrace but this melt down of nuclear giants has tilted the balance in India's favour. 
Now without ever having to officially deny buying expensive French and American reactors, New Delhi can opt to expand its existing fleet of atomic plants on its own terms. This 'meltdown' is making the Indian nuclear establishment smile all the way.

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