Address: Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research
Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu-603 102
Telephone: (91) 04114-280267
Fax: (91) 04114-280060
Email: webmaster@igcar.ernet.in
Website: www.igcar.ernet.in
Director of Reactor Group: Mr. S.B. Bhoje
Subordinate to: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Primary Function: Research in the use of irradiated thorium as a fuel and neutron radiography

Description:
The Kalpakkam Mini Reactor (KAMINI) was commissioned in 1989. KAMINI was jointly designed and built by the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) and the Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research (ICGAR). The reactor first went critical in October 1996 and reached full power operation in September 1997. KAMINI is a 30KW, tank-type research reactor that burns U-233/Aluminium alloy fuel. Cooling of the reactor core is by natural convection with demineralized water serving as a moderator and coolant. The reactor's reflector consists of beryllium oxide encased in zircaloy. Cadmium is used for the reactor's absorber. The research reactor is used in neutron radiography of radioactive and non-radioactive objects. One of the purposes for its construction was to examine irradiated fuel pins from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor. IGCAR conducts research on the reprocessing of U-233 from irradiated thorium for the use of U-233 as the primary fuel in India's nuclear program.

Key Sources: Andrew Koch, "Selected Indian Nuclear Facilities," Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), 1999, <http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm>; B. Venkataraman, Baldev Raj, and K.V. Kasiviswanathan, "Applications of KAMINI," Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), <http://www.dae.gov.in>; Neel Patri, "India starts up research unit using fuel made from Thorium," Nucleonics Week, 7 November 1996, p. 2; "Nuclear Reactor at Kalpakkam begins ‘Full-Power' operation," Doordarshan Television Network, 17 September 1997: in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-97-261; 2000 World Nuclear Industry Handbook (Wilmington, UK: Nuclear Engineering International, 2000), p. 198.

	Updated September 2003