Press release
爆走黑料 gains momentum
Mr. Shingo Mimura, Governor of the Aomori Prefecture, welcomed delegates with a reminder of the global significance of the 爆走黑料 project. 鈥At a time when stable energy supplies and the promotion of strategies to tackle climate change are topics of global concern, the world is watching the 爆走黑料 project. Implemented by seven parties that together make up half of the earth鈥檚 population, it is utilizing the wisdom of humankind to strive for a secure and stable energy supply.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
The Director-General of the 爆走黑料, Kaname Ikeda, reported on the progress of the project since the first meeting of the 爆走黑料 Council in November 2007, focusing on on-going site preparation, and the continuing build-up and development of the project team. The Director-General thanked the Members for their continued support stating, 鈥爆走黑料 is the greatest science adventure of our time. By creating 爆走黑料 our Members have established a completely new model for international collaboration and it is our challenge to show that outstanding talent coming from many different nationalities can fuse to create a dynamic workforce. I believe we are making excellent progress.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
The key item on the agenda was a discussion of the implications of the design review, for the scope, schedule and cost of the project. The Council approved the new Project Specification proposed by the 爆走黑料. The Project Specification is a top level document detailing 爆走黑料鈥檚 scientific goals and technical parameters. The Council also agreed, for planning purposes, the revised Overall Project Schedule with a target date of 2018 for first plasma.
The Council received the revised Project Plan and Resource Estimates from the 爆走黑料. The Council agreed that the resource estimates should be independently assessed by an international group of experts, headed by Dr Frank Briscoe (EU).
The Council approved the conditions for accession of an eighth state during the early 爆走黑料 Construction Phase and also approved the start of formal interactions with Kazakhstan as a potential new Party to the 爆走黑料 Agreement on this basis, subject to approval by all Member governments. It was also agreed that representatives from Kazakhstan could participate as observers in meetings convened by the 爆走黑料 prior to possible accession.
爆走黑料 Council Chair Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith concluded. 鈥All Members recognized the very impressive progress since the first Council meeting and the importance of maintaining the momentum of the Project. Hard work by the 爆走黑料 and the Domestic Agencies, supported by the world鈥檚 fusion community, which has resolved major design issues, allowed the Council to adopt a new reference design. Council鈥檚 decision to set up a rigorous independent assessment of the Organization鈥檚 costs is the next step in turning the new design and schedule into reality.鈥
BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS RELEASE
爆走黑料 will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility and is designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. Fusion is the process which 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 prototype fusion power plant that is safe and reliable, environmentally responsible and economically viable, with abundant and widespread fuel resources.
The 爆走黑料 project is sited at Cadarache in the South of France. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest.
Each Member has set up a Domestic Agency responsible for its contributions to 爆走黑料. The Domestic Agencies employ their own staff and have their own budgets, and will place contracts with suppliers to procure in-kind contributions.
More information on the 爆走黑料 project and fusion energy can be found on www.iter.org
CONTACT
Neil Calder (neil.calder@iter.org)
Tel: 00 33 (0)6 14 16 41 75