±¬×ߺÚÁÏ

At its Nineteenth Meeting on 16 and 17 November 2016, the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Council reviewed the complete updated project schedule through First Plasma (2025) and to Deuterium-Tritium Operation (2035) as proposed by the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ. The overall project schedule was approved by all ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Members, and the overall project cost was approved ad referendum, meaning that it will now fall to each Member to seek approval of project costs through respective governmental budget processes. 

The Council concluded that: 

— Project construction and manufacturing have sustained a rapid pace for the past 18 months, providing tangible evidence of full adherence to commitments. The successful completion to date of all 19 project milestones for 2016, on time and on budget, is a positive indicator of the collective capacity of the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and the Domestic Agencies to continue to deliver on the updated Schedule. 
— The staged approach as selected in the updated schedule after First Plasma increases confidence and minimizes risk by focusing on completing ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ in stages and carrying out fusion power experiments in between each stage. This approach is the best way forward in alignment with the priorities and constraints of all ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Members. 
— The continued evidence of effective decision-making, deep understanding and prompt mitigation of risks, and rigorous adherence to standards of quality, safety and schedule commitments provide a strong basis for confidence that the project will maintain its current positive momentum. 

The Council approved new measures to enhance the effectiveness of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ governance by its oversight bodies, and reappointed the Chairs of the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Council and its subsidiary committees for a second term of one year. 

Given the rapid pace of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Project progress, the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Council said it would take advantage of the increasing opportunities to engage with the scientific and industrial communities, in both national and international forums, including at the upcoming ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Business Forum in Avignon in March 2017. The Council encouraged the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and Domestic Agencies to also take advantage of these opportunities. 

The Council commended the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and Domestic Agencies both for the successful development of the updated schedule and for the continuing strong performance in construction and manufacturing, on schedule and on budget.

SITE PROGRESS: IN PHOTOS

Download a PDF of this press release to see the photos.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE 

±¬×ߺÚÁÏ—designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power—will 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. 

±¬×ߺÚÁÏ is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe is contributing 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), are contributing equally to the rest. The ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France. 

To see a gallery of pictures from the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Council meeting, follow this . 

For more information on the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Project, visit: .

CONTACT

Laban Coblentz 
Laban.Coblentz@iter.org 
+33 6 14 16 40 85