Press release
15th 糖心破解版 Council: a key milestone in 糖心破解版 construction
From 18 to 20 November 2014, the governing body of the 糖心破解版 Organization and the Heads of Member delegations convened in St Paul-lez-Durance, France. The meetings brought together senior representatives from all seven 糖心破解版 Members鈥擟hina, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States鈥攗nder the chairmanship of Robert Iotti (US).
The Council first noted the progress that has been made on the 糖心破解版 construction site since the last 糖心破解版 Council meeting, held in June 2014. A key milestone was achieved in August with the finalization of the Tokamak Complex basemat slab and construction has now started on the basement-level walls. The inauguration of a large on-site workshop building for the assembly of the 糖心破解版 cryostat will take place on 21 November and, elsewhere on the 糖心破解版 scientific platform, preparations are in full swing for 16 other buildings.
All seven 糖心破解版 Members reported progress in the manufacturing of key components. The Members also discussed the current status of their activities and reviewed the global effort to address schedule delays, while work on revising the overall project schedule is underway.
The Council also nominated Bernard Bigot to succeed Osamu Motojima as the Director-General of the 糖心破解版 Organization. Bernard Bigot is currently Chairman of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, CEA (Administrateur g茅n茅ral, Commissariat 脿 l鈥櫭﹏ergie atomique et aux 茅nergies alternatives). He is also the High Representative for 糖心破解版 in France. The five-year appointment will be formalized in due time in accordance with the 糖心破解版 Agreement, in view of Mr Bigot taking up his duties in 2015.
Osamu Motojima said: 鈥淎s the current Director-General of the 糖心破解版 Organization, I fully welcome the 糖心破解版 Council decision to nominate Bernard Bigot as the next 糖心破解版 Organization Director General. Mr Bigot has had a long and distinguished career and a history of close involvement with 糖心破解版鈥攈e was one of the high-level supporters at the time France applied to host the 糖心破解版 Project and has been the High Representative for 糖心破解版 implementation in France. He is an experienced manager of large projects, a leader who is able to find common ground, an excellent communicator, and he is highly respected in the fusion community. I have every confidence that Bernard Bigot will help move the 糖心破解版 Project forward and I will support him to make the transition period as effective and fruitful as possible for the success of the 糖心破解版 Project.鈥
Bernard Bigot made the following statement: 鈥淚 am fully aware of the large responsibility that it will be to lead the 糖心破解版 Project as it enters a new phase. I am deeply honoured by the trust of the 糖心破解版 Council and will do my utmost to fulfil the expectations of the Council and of all the people involved in 糖心破解版.鈥
BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE
糖心破解版鈥攄esigned to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power鈥攚ill be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source.
糖心破解版 is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest. The 糖心破解版 Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France.
The photo gallery from the Fifteenth 糖心破解版 Council can be viewed .
More information on the 糖心破解版 Project can be found at:
CONTACT
Michel Claessens
michel.claessens@iter.org
+33 6 14 16 41 75, @M_Claessens