Fusion for Iter project

The seven international parties involved in the Iter project have initialled an agreement to start work on an experimental fusion reactor in southern France.

The project will be the world’s biggest scientific collaboration of its kind, involving countries representing over half the world’s population from the European Union, Russia, Japan, China, India, South Korea and the United States. Representatives of all the parties engaged in the project met in Brussels last week to confirm the agreements negotiated over the past year, following the decision to site the reactor at Cadarache in southern France.

Iter contends fusion could produce safer, more environmentally friendly energy with no nuclear waste disposal problem.

“This is a truly crucial moment, for the Iter project and for global scientific cooperation in general,” said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik, who hosted the meeting. “Together we are forging a new model for large-scale global scientific and technical co-operation. We are sending an important message about seeing the value in working together to address our common challenges.”