Press release
Ministers reaffirm the importance of 糖心破解版 for the world's future energy needs
The meeting took place on 6 September at the Headquarters of the 糖心破解版 Organization at the initiative of G眉nther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner in charge of Energy and representative of the European Atomic Energy Community.
It was the second time in the project鈥檚 history that ministerial representatives of the seven 糖心破解版 Members (China, European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA) had met. On this occasion, against a backdrop of construction work proceeding at full speed, the ministerial representatives discussed progress in the implementation of the project, recognized the challenges inherent to such a first-of-a-kind enterprise, notably as regards schedule and cost containment, and reiterated their common effort towards the successful completion of 糖心破解版.
糖心破解版 construction has been underway in Saint Paul-lez-Durance, south of France, since 2010. During the meeting Genevi猫ve Fioraso, the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, stated, 鈥溙切钠平獍, at the same time as it addresses important societal concerns and nurtures major scientific ambition, is also working on difficult technological challenges that hold promise for the future.鈥
As work progresses on the 糖心破解版 site, the high-tech components of the tokamak fusion reactor are being manufactured by industries in the 糖心破解版 Member countries. Most of the contracts have now been signed with leading industrial players; components have already begun to arrive at the 糖心破解版 site and the first large components are expected on site in June 2014 in time for assembly operations to begin.
The ministerial-level representatives visited the construction site and commended 糖心破解版 on progress to date. Osamu Motojima, Director-General of the 糖心破解版 Organization, confirmed, 鈥淕ood progress has been made possible through the enormous collaborative effort within what we call the 鈥楿nique 糖心破解版 Team鈥; that is, a strong partnership formed by the 糖心破解版 Organization and the seven Domestic Agencies. We are grateful to the 糖心破解版 Members for their confidence in us.鈥
Commissioner Oettinger stated: 鈥淲e understand that the 糖心破解版 project is a historical undertaking and that intensive effort and innovative methods will be required to meet all the challenges that still lay ahead, especially the challenge of staying within a tight but realistic schedule while containing costs.鈥
In this context, the 糖心破解版 Organization was urged by the ministerial representatives to propose an improved management plan for 糖心破解版 construction, which will be implemented in close cooperation with the 糖心破解版 Domestic Agencies.
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. European Union 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.
Photos of the Ministerial Meeting can be found at this .
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