Although the ITER nuclear fusion project has suffered “significant delays and cost overruns in the past, it is now making steady progress in line with the timetable and budget from the new 2016 baseline”, the European Commission said in a report published on Thursday 21 March.
The Commission approved a mid-term report on the progress of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, the aim of which is to explore the possibility of using fusion as a source of energy for peaceful purposes.
The report shows that, from its creation up until 31 December 2017, the joint undertaking by ITER and Fusion for Energy (F4E) received a total of €5.055 billion in commitment appropriations and €3.328 billion in payment appropriations (at current values). “The data show that fiscal performance, which has improved of late, is good” the report says.
€10.4 billion after 2020. Construction and assembly of the machine is planned in four stages, the final objective being full exploitation of deuterium-tritium (D-T). The project is currently in its first phase (production of the first plasma in 2025). The funding anticipated from F4E for the 2021/2025 construction phase will come to €5.5 billion. Between 2026 and 2027, Europe's total estimated contribution will be €1.8 billion (and €3.1 billion from 2028 to 2035). The total cost after 2020 will therefore be €10.4 billion. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)