4 Jul (NucNet): Kazakhstan could become the newest partner of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project based in Cadarache, southern France.
The ITER council, the governing body of the organisation, approved the start of formal interactions with Kazakhstan as a potential new party at a meeting in Japan that ended on 18 June 2008.
Existing member countries of ITER also approved Kazakhstan’s participation as observers at future meetings before its possible accession to the organisation.
The council also approved a revised overall project schedule for ITER with a target date of 2018 for first plasma.
ITER will be the world’s largest experimental facility to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The construction costs have been estimated at five billion euro over 10 years.
Europe will contribute about half of the costs of construction, while the other parties to the venture – currently China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, India and the US – will contribute equally to the rest.
– by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
China To Contribute USD 1. 4 Billion To ITER (News in Brief No. 3, 8 January 2008)
India Approves USD 620 Million ITER Contribution (News No. 161, 5 July 2007)
