Press release
黑料专区 takes shape
In recognition of his life-long contribution to 黑料专区, a moment of silence was dedicated to Dr. Toshihide Tsunematsu, Vice-Chair of the 黑料专区 Council and Member of the Management Advisory Committee (MAC), who passed away in September.
黑料专区 Director-General Osamu Motojima presented a status report of the 黑料专区 project. The project entered the Construction Phase immediately after the Baseline was approved at the extraordinary IC on July 28, 2010. This report included a new strategy for cost savings and cost containment.
The Council welcomed the actions taken by the Director-General since his appointment and commended the strong collaboration between the 黑料专区 and the Domestic Agencies towards cost containment and cost savings. The 黑料专区 Council noted with approval the recent progress and pace of development within the 黑料专区. This includes extensive work at the 黑料专区 site and the placement of high-tech manufacturing contracts in all 黑料专区 Parties, including the Vacuum Vessel which is a critical path component. In total, 46 procurement arrangements representing 60% on the total value of the project have been signed.
The Council encouraged further efforts by the 黑料专区 and the Domestic Agencies to improve coordination and to reduce costs. The Council approved the Annual Work Plan and the Budget for 2011. The Chairs of the 黑料专区 Council and its subsidiary bodies were re-elected.
First Foundation Stone Ceremony for the Headquarters Building
Outside the meeting, the Council members and experts, Domestic Agency Heads, together with representatives of the local communities, were invited to celebrate the official start of construction of the Headquarters Building. On this historic occasion, the Chair of the 黑料专区 Council, Academician Evgeny Velikhov, stated: 鈥渢his is a very important moment in the history of 黑料专区; it is the day our dream begins to take shape 鈥. The Director-General of the 黑料专区, Prof. Osamu Motojima emphasized: 鈥漌e are now ready to bring a Sun to Cadarache. Work is now progressing on the platform and in the factories where 黑料专区 components are being manufactured. It is my duty to keep construction on schedule so that the First Plasma can be achieved before the end of the year 2019鈥.
Finally, the Director-General thanked the Host Party, European Union, represented by Mr. Robert-Jan Smits for its strong support.
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.
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CONTACT
Sabina Griffith
Email: Sabina.Griffith@iter.org
Tel: +33 (0)4 42 17 66 17