EU pushes for Iter, with or without Japan’s support

European ministers say they are keen to proceed with the Iter nuclear fusion project, even though they may lose Japanese support.

The ministers hope Japan will end the prolonged debate over Iter’s location by withdrawing its proposal to host the multi-billion-euro reactor and instead accepting a support role. If it accepted, Japan would receive a materials testing facility, which would help win any contracts to supply commercial reactors following Iter. Japan is, however, adamant that it has the stronger candidacy.

On Friday, the French research minister, Francois D’Aubert, said: “This is not an ultimatum, but we wish to reach a political agreement before the end of the year.”

“If the negotiations do not come to a rapid conclusion, the commission has the possibility to choose a different path.”

The deputy director of the Office of Fusion Energy at Japan’s energy ministry, Takahiro Hayashi, said the matter was “extremely regrettable” and hoped the EU would assume a more appropriate approach.

The six parties should have decided on Iter’s location a year ago. China and Russia support the EU’s application whereas the US and South Korea favour Japan.

The Iter design (pictured) is based on a toroidal magnetic configuration in which the conditions for controlled fusion reactions are created and maintained. A 100,000,000°C gas, suspended in the magnetic field, should allow for 500MW of fusion power, produced during pulses of at least 400 seconds.