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Abstract: The three stage Indian nuclear power programme envisages efficient use of its modest uranium resources and full exploitation of its vast Thorium resources. Indian economy is on a fast growth track. The growth in population and economy is creating huge demand for energy which has to be met with environmentally benign technologies. Nuclear Energy is best suited to meet this demand without causing undue environmental impact. In view of limited resources of Uranium and vast resources of Thorium, a closed fuel cycle to fully exploit the potential of the two resources is co nsidered essential. In conformity with such a strategy, Recycle fuel fabrication technologies have been under development in India for over three decades. Some of the activities such as (i) Fabrication and development of MOX fuels for LWRs/PHWRS (ii) Fabrication of mixed carbide and mixed oxide fuels for Fast Reactors (iii) Research and development in Metallic Fuels for Fast Reactors and (iv) Development of fuels for Thorium utilization - are briefly discussed in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The growing energy needs of India can be fulfilled only by judicious mix of all the fuel resources. It is possible to achieve energy security and sustainability through the introduction of fast reactors in an expeditious manner and closing the fuel cycle. This approach is inevitable in view of the limited uranium resources in India. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) built by India uses mixed carbide as fuel and the 500 MW(e) Fast Breeder Reactor Project (PFBR), to be operational in 2010, will use mixed oxide as fuel. It has also been decided that fast reactors beyond 2020, with enhanced safety features and having better economy, will use metallic fuel. Having successfully operated FBTR with carbide fuels, we need to develop the fuel cycles for both the mixed oxide fuel in the near future and the metallic fuel expeditiously. The progress achieved so far and the plans for implementation are discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]