Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
🇮🇳 Kalpakkam, IN · Founded 1971-04-30 · Active
Also known as IGCAR, Reactor Research Centre
The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, is the second-largest establishment of India's Department of Atomic Energy after the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. It was set up on 30 April 1971 as the Reactor Research Centre to develop fast breeder reactors, the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme, and was renamed in December 1985. It operates the 40 MW thermal Fast Breeder Test Reactor, running since 1985 on mixed plutonium-uranium carbide fuel, and KAMINI, a 30 kW reactor fuelled with uranium-233. IGCAR designed the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, which the state company BHAVINI built and brought to first criticality on 6 April 2026.
- Sector
- Fission
- Technology
- Sodium fast reactor
- Role
- National laboratory, Research institute, Reactor developer, Operator
It is the operator of record for Fast Breeder Test Reactor (operating) and KAMINI (operating).
Terms
- Sodium fast reactor
- Liquid sodium coolant with a fast, unmoderated neutron spectrum. Sodium carries heat superbly at atmospheric pressure, but burns in air and reacts violently with water. Large sodium-cooled cores can have a positive sodium void effect that the core design must offset. Fuel is typically metal alloy or mixed-oxide.
Design values
| Device | Parameter | Value | Unit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Breeder Test Reactor | Thermal capacity (rated) | 40 | MW | design valueclaimed |
| KAMINI | Thermal capacity (rated) | 0.03 | MW | design valueclaimed |