Surat, April 7 (NationPress) Renowned nuclear energy specialist Dr. Neelam Goyal referred to the successful achievement of criticality at the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) located in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, as a significant triumph for India and a crucial milestone towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

The indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) reached its first criticality on April 6, signifying the commencement of a sustained nuclear chain reaction.

In a conversation with IANS, Goyal emphasized that India's economy is fundamentally supported by three sectors: agriculture, industry, and services.

She stated, "Electricity is the backbone of all three sectors. Currently, 70% of our electricity is sourced from coal, predominantly imported from Indonesia, along with gas from Qatar."

According to her, "This reactor will be pivotal for nuclear energy. India holds 85% of the global nuclear fuel supply, yet relies on uranium imports from countries such as Australia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia for our 24 operational reactors."

Notably, while India's uranium reserves are limited, the nation possesses one of the largest Thorium reserves globally. To optimize these resources, the Department of Atomic Energy has initiated a three-stage nuclear power program centered on a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The aim is to progressively enhance domestic fissile resources and achieve long-term energy autonomy.

Goyal elaborated that Thorium is a fertile element and converting it into fissile material requires a small quantity of uranium.

"Uranium serves as the fuel for the first phase of the nuclear power initiative, with the leftover fuel being Plutonium, utilized in the second stage of nuclear electricity generation at Kalpakkam," she explained.

She outlined how India could attain self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on coal and gas imports.

"If water, electricity, and food processing facilities are established in rural areas, farmers' incomes could increase by approximately 10%."

Goyal asserted that increasing demand will lead to industrial growth, which will necessitate more electricity. "Nuclear energy is the most viable option for this. The funds spent on importing gas and electricity could be conserved," she noted.

According to the expert, the establishment of bio-gas plants in hundreds of villages could fulfill 70% of the gas demand locally.

She added, "In urban areas, utilizing electric stoves for cooking can help lessen our dependence on imported gas."

She remarked that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has resulted in a gas crisis in India, alongside soaring coal prices.

Furthermore, Goyal believes India can minimize coal dependency by establishing nuclear energy facilities across 650 districts, each featuring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) of 300MW capacity.

"This approach will provide affordable electricity to the populace," she concluded.

Additionally, she acknowledged public apprehension regarding nuclear energy compared to solar energy.

However, she emphasized that India's nuclear power plants have been operational for years without any significant incidents reported.