AEC Chairman and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Ajit Kumar Mohanty inaugurated the Atmanirbhar Bharat Gallery of NFC at the BM Birla Science Center in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) announced here on Wednesday that it has successfully developed a critical technology for the production of high residual resistance ratio (RRR) niobium ingots and sheets. High RRR niobium is a critical material required for a number of advanced accelerator programs aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in nuclear power, materials research and critical applications.
The first high RRR niobium sheet produced here in NFC was handed over by Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman AK Mohanty to Raja Ramanna Center for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) Director UD Malshe in the presence of NFC CEO Komal Kapoor, Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) Director Vivk Bhasin and other top scientists here on Wednesday.
Currently, high RRR Nb is sourced exclusively from a few international suppliers, resulting in supply chain vulnerability and dependence on extensive national accelerator programs. With the development of indigenous NFC technology, India joins a select group of nations with the ability to produce, process and qualify high RRR Nb for high-end accelerator applications.
NFC plans large-scale production of RRR Nb and represents a significant milestone towards achieving technological self-sufficiency in India’s superconducting accelerator infrastructure, supporting high-tech manufacturing and delivering tangible benefits in energy, healthcare and industrial applications.
To expand the fuel and structural requirements of the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) program of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) NFC has successfully completed 18 investment projects during 2017-2025 and nine investment projects are under implementation, with many projects in various stages of preparation and planning. All these projects are expected to be completed gradually by 2031-32 and are aimed at the target of realization of 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 announced by the Centre, a press release said.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Gallery
In a related development, AEC Chairman and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Ajit Kumar Mohanty inaugurated the Atmanirbhar Bharat NFC Gallery at the BM Birla Science Center in Hyderabad at the GP Birla Archaeological Astronomy and Scientific Research Institute (GPBAASRI).
The gallery will showcase the achievements of NFC and its role in creating India’s independence throughout the nuclear fuel cycle.
Dr. Mohanty also delivered the GP Birla Memorial Lecture titled “The Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics: India at the Frontiers of Basic Science”.
GBPAASRI Chairperson Nirmala Birla and Institute Director K. Mruthunjaya Reddy were present.
Mr. Komal Kapoor, ECIL Chairman and Managing Director Anurag Kumar and other top scientists were also present in this important meeting, a press release said.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 20:27 IST
