DAE inaugurates Deuterated Compounds Plant and commissions Prototype Sodium Cell at Vadodara

📌 Summary:

• Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary DAE & Chairman AEC, inaugurated the indigenous Versatile Deuterated compounds Production Plant (VDPP) and commissioned the 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at Heavy Water Board Facilities (HWBF), Vadodara, on 21 June 2026
• VDPP strengthens indigenous production of high-purity deuterated solvents/compounds needed for advanced scientific research, strategic applications and frontier technologies
• The 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell is a major step towards indigenous industrial-scale production of nuclear-grade sodium - a critical material (coolant) for India's Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) Programme
• Both facilities support the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme and reinforce technological self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat)
• Reflects DAE's push for indigenous critical-materials capability aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 - nuclear energy, indigenous critical materials, three-stage nuclear programme and strategic self-reliance in S&T.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• VDPP = Versatile Deuterated compounds Production Plant; located at HWBF, Vadodara (Heavy Water Board)
• Nuclear-grade sodium is used as coolant in Fast Breeder Reactors (Stage 2 of the three-stage programme)
• DAE Secretary is also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)

🔑 Key Term: Three-stage nuclear power programme - India's Bhabha-conceived plan: (1) PHWRs using natural uranium, (2) Fast Breeder Reactors using plutonium, (3) thorium-based reactors.