India has reached a key milestone in its nuclear energy programme with the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam attaining criticality, marking a significant step in the country’s three-stage nuclear strategy.
Engineering major said it played a pivotal role in the project by designing and supplying critical reactor components, including the Primary and Secondary Heat Transport Pumps — the only rotating equipment in the system. Each of these pumps weighs about 135 tonnes and is built using specialised materials to operate under extreme conditions, handling liquid sodium at temperatures exceeding 500°C.
KBL noted that it is among a select group of four companies globally capable of manufacturing such advanced nuclear-grade pumping systems, underscoring India’s growing technological self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
In addition, the company supplied Concrete Volute Circulating Water Pumps for the plant, designed using advanced seismic and computational fluid dynamics techniques. These pumps deliver 9,500 litres per second of seawater and are engineered to operate without the need for standby units — an industry first for fast breeder reactors.
KBL also implemented a comprehensive firefighting system to enhance plant safety.