FPN09-20

ITER Update

April 29, 2009

On March 18, the ITER Organization advertised openings for 74 new hires. Only people from one of the seven ITER Parties may apply. Persons must apply by October 5. Information is at http://www.iter.org/a/index_jobs.htm As of late April, there are 392 staff members at the ITER site, including 248 professionals and 145 support.

ITER now has its own YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/iterorganization

Since early March, prototypes being developed for ITER have been on display in the lobby and in front of the ITER Headquarters building in Cadarache. The prototypes include divertor cassette and blanket modules.

Leveling of the 82 hectare site for the tokamak platform is nearing completion. The next step will be the pre-excavation of the tokamak pit and the construction of the poloidal field coil winding facility. Also, according to ITER Director General Kaname Ikeda, "the design of the ITER machine had been reviewed down to the last bolt and, although there are issues to be resolved, we are making good progress." Ikeda notes that "twelve procurement arrangements have been signed and the first manufacturing of strands for the ITER magnets has begun."

Ikeda also said, "Major challenges lie ahead, however. the most challenging task of the next months is to define the new project baseline, meaning that we have to define the scope and schedule of the project, and at the same time address the question of monetary resources." The ITER Organization is also in the process of "procurement process optimization" among the ITER Parties "to achieve equal distribution among all the Members both in terms of manufacturing and in terms of cost," Ikeda said.

The ITER Technical Advisory Group, chaired by Michel Huguet, held its 5th meeting in early April. The group reviewed the ITER Organizational structure and the overall procurement and management programs, while focusing on technical issues such as the ITER hot cell, the design of the vacuum vessel,and blanket and remote handling activities.

The European ITER Domestic Agency, called "Fusion for Energy (F4E)", has signed a contract for the manufacture of 62 tons of chromium-plated copper strand, which will form part of ITER's superconducting magnet system. This contract marks Europe's first "in-kind hardware contribution" to the ITER project.

The ITER Organization and the Indian ITER Domestic Agency have signed a Procurement Arrangement for ITER's Diagnostic Neutral Beam Power Supplies. The contract was signed April 19 in Paris.