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Earlier this month, the ���ߺ��� Council took a unanimous decision to offer a second five-year term to the current Director-General. Since March 2015, when Dr Bigot took over as head of the ���ߺ���, the project has adhered rigorously to an Action Plan to put construction, manufacturing and project management on track for success. The result has been dramatically improved performance, as reflected by adherence to cost and schedule and repeated confirmation by external reviews. The project recently reached 60% completion through First Plasma in 2025, a key milestone toward full fusion power by 2035. 

In a message to ���ߺ��� staff announcing his acceptance of the reappointment, Dr Bigot acknowledged the heavy workload and responsibilities that go with the Director-General position, particularly in view of the crucial challenges ahead: the finalization of construction, the arrival on site of many critical-path components, the assembly and installation of all components and systems, and preparations for commissioning for First Plasma. “I am fully aware of the challenge of the ���ߺ��� Director-General position and its responsibilities for the ���ߺ��� Project to move forward on scope, schedule and cost,” he wrote to the seven ���ߺ��� Members and ���ߺ��� staff. “You have my assurance of my continued commitment to do everything in my power to ensure the success of the ���ߺ��� Project.” 

Mr. Arun Srivastava, Chair of the ���ߺ��� Council, said that he viewed this reappointment as a strong signal of intent, on the part of both the Council and Director-General Bigot, to ensure reliability and continuity as the project moves into the Assembly and Installation Phase. “Dr Bigot has demonstrated both his visionary leadership and his capacity to manage day-to-day the unprecedented complexities of the ���ߺ��� Project. The Council congratulates Dr Bigot on his exceptional performance to date, and welcomes his acceptance of a second term. The Council pledges its support to Director-General Bigot to maintain this pace of achievement.” 

The Council decision shows the confirmed confidence of ���ߺ��� Members in the viability and value of the project.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE 

���ߺ���—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.

���ߺ��� 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 of this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), are contributing equally to the rest. The ���ߺ��� Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France. 

For more information on the ���ߺ��� Project, visit:

CONTACT

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