On 21 June 2026, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the Versatile Deuterated Compounds Production Plant (VDPP) and commissioned the 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at the Heavy Water Board Facilities (HWBF), Vadodara.
About Versatile Deuterated Compounds Production Plant (VDPP)
- Objective: To strengthen India’s indigenous capability in producing specialised deuterated compounds.
- Purpose: Manufacture high-purity deuterated solvents required for:
- Advanced scientific research.
- Strategic applications.
- Frontier technological programmes.
- Significance
- Enhances self-reliance in critical materials.
- Reduces dependence on imports.
- Supports research in nuclear science, pharmaceuticals, spectroscopy, and advanced technologies.
24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell
- Objective: To enable indigenous industrial-scale production of nuclear-grade sodium.
- Significance:
- Represents a major technological milestone for India’s nuclear programme.
- Provides a reliable domestic source of high-purity sodium.
- Supports the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) Programme, where liquid sodium is used as a coolant.
- Strengthens India’s indigenous nuclear fuel cycle and advanced reactor technologies.
Source: PIB
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