FPN05-17

Estimated Cost of US Contribution to ITER

February 15, 2005

The U. S. Department of Energy has sent to Congress, as part of its FY06 budget submission, an updated estimate of the cost to the U. S. for its negotiated 10% contribution to the cost of ITER construction.

Based on the $5 billion ($FY2002) estimated cost provided by the ITER Project, the original U. S. estimate was $513 million. Using estimates obtained, in part, subsequently from U. S. industry, the U. S. revised that estimate upwards to $792 million, including an estimated $101 million for operation of the U. S. ITER Project Office. The U. S. estimate further added $132 million in contingency, bringing the total U.S. estimate to $924 million ($FY 2002). Including escalation during construction adds another $198 million, bringing the current estimated total cost to the U. S. to $1.122 billion (as spent dollars).

Although it has sometimes been said that ITER construction cost would be spread over 10 years, the DOE says this amount would be required over 8 years as follows:

FY 2006 $ 49.5 M
FY 2007 $146.0 M
FY 2008 $200.8 M
FY 2009 $207.5 M
FY 2010 $199.3 M
FY 2011 $160.3 M
FY 2012 $126.2 M
FY 2013 $ 32.4 M