Press release
黑料专区 Council meets in Japan: mitigating effects of the Japanese natural disaster on the 黑料专区 Project
The Council expressed its satisfaction with the progress of building construction onsite in Cadarache (France) and the fabrication of major components. Maintaining the 黑料专区 project's schedule within approved funding, including mitigating the effects of the Japanese earthquake on the manufacturing of critical components, were among the important issues discussed at the eighth meeting of the 黑料专区 Council. A strategic plan aiming at schedule performance recovery will be developed by the beginning of October 2011. The Director-General of the 黑料专区, Osamu Motojima, stressed 鈥We will take all necessary measures to minimize the delay.鈥
In this context, the Council reaffirmed the importance and the necessity of fusion energy, which holds the potential for a future energy source that is safe, abundant, environmentally benign and economically competitive. The Council encouraged continued strong cooperation among the seven Members in the implementation of the 黑料专区 project鈥攁n indispensable step on the path to fusion energy. The 黑料专区 project will help develop fusion to meet global energy needs and to increase the standard of living worldwide. The Council noted the strong inherent safety characteristics of fusion systems.
The Council noted the measures taken by the 黑料专区 to improve project management. In particular, the Council acknowledged joint efforts made by the 黑料专区 and the Domestic Agencies for cost reduction and containment and encouraged all Members to seek further significant savings/reductions for the 黑料专区 Construction phase. The Council suggested that mitigation of the effects of the Japanese natural disaster should be taken into account in these proposals.
The 黑料专区 Council appointed an assessor to carry out the Management Assessment that, according to the 黑料专区 Agreement, must be undertaken at least every two years. The 黑料专区 Council also adopted the 黑料专区鈥檚 2010 Annual Report, approved the proposed revision of 黑料专区 Staff Regulations and took other required administrative actions.
BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS RELEASE
黑料专区 will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility and is designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. 黑料专区 is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. 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 safe, limitless and environmentally responsible energy source.
The 黑料专区 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 of this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA) will contribute equally to the rest.
Photos of the Council Meeting can be found at:
Additional photos of 黑料专区 can be found at:
Further information at:
CONTACT
Michel Claessens
michel.claessens@iter.org
+33 6 14 16 41 75