Address: Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu-603 102
Telephone: 91-04114-280099
Fax: 91-04114-280060
Email: mvr@igcar.ernet.in
Director IGCAR, Reprocessing Plant Operations Division: M. Venkataraman
Subordinate to: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Size: Under development
Primary Function: Reprocess plutonium-uranium carbide fuel from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR)

Description and Activities:
The Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant (FRFRP) is currently under development at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) facility in Kalpakkam. This plant will reprocess plutonium-uranium carbide fuel from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), which is also located in Kalpakkam. Spent fuel from the FBTR is currently being reprocessed on a laboratory scale at the Lead Mini Cell (LMC) facility that reached an advanced stage of commissioning by 2001-2002. The LMC will serve as a means of gaining reprocessing experience with carbide fuels while the FRFRP is being built. Upon completion, the FRFRP will reprocess FBTR carbide fuel on a regular basis.

According to the Department of Atomic Energy's (Government of India) 2001-2002 Annual Report, the construction of FRFRP was making progress and concrete walls, air conditioning, and ventilation systems were already in place. Major vessels had also been fabricated by this time. Although the commissioning date of FRFRP is unspecified, this facility and the Kalpakkam Atomic Reprocessing Plant (KARP) will likely surpass the PREFRE plant at Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) as India's largest plutonium producer. This plutonium may be used for India's nuclear weapons program.

Key Sources: Baldev Raj and T. Jayakumar, "Technology Management at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research – A Few Experiences," Patentmatics.com, 2003, <http://www.patentmatics.com/pub2003/pub1i.htm>; DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 1995-1996," p. 4; DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 2001-2002," Executive Summary available at <http://www.dae.gov.in/ar2002/ar2002.htm>; "E-mail and Telephone Directory @ IGCAR," Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, <http://www.igcar.ernet.in/igcar2k2/email.htm>; "Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research," Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, <http://www.igcar.ernet.in/igcar2k2/igc.htm>; John Pike, "Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research [IGCAR]: Kalpakkam Atomic Reprocessing Plant [KARP]," Globalsecurity.org, 12 August 2002, <http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/india/kalpakkam.htm>.

	Updated September 2003