FPN06-06

EU Mobilizes European Industry to Construct ITER

January 15, 2006

The European Union (EU), through its European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) brought together over 600 representatives from European industry and fusion research institutes for a two-day workshop "ITER Opportunities for European Industry," December 13,14 in Barcelona. The goal of the workshop was "to inform European companies about the international ITER Fusion Energy Project, and to discuss opportunities for their involvement in its construction." The workshop followed an initiative of the Committee for Fusion Industry of the European Commission, and was hosted by the Spanish fusion laboratory CIEMAT.

Topics at the workshop included ITER technical features and the planned construction program; envisaged procurement system; role of European ITER Domestic Agency responsible for European "in-kind" contributions; contract opportunities for European industry; and information on Codes and Standards, the ITER site and local infrastructure.

A. Airaghi, Chairman of Ansaldo Energia, gave an overview of the workshop objectives. P. Fernandez-Ruiz, Director of Energy Directorate of the European Commission, described EU involvement in ITER and "a vision of the roadmap towards fusion power plants." P. Barabaschi, ITER International Team, provided an overview of the ITER project. R. Andreani, former EFDA Associate Leader for Technology, described the involvement of industry during the ITER design phase and preparation for ITER construction. Other presentations provided details of the ITER venture.

Many of the presentations are posted at http://www.efda.org/portal/cfi/Barcelona/Barcelona.html