July 18, 1996

According to an Associated Press report dated July 17, "Germany and France have withdrawn bids to build the world's biggest nuclear fusion research reactor, saying it would be too expensive." The story quotes a joint statement by German research minister Juergen Ruettgers and his "French counterpart" Francois d'Aubert as saying "France and Germany do not want to apply to be the location of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor," since a European study said the host country would have to bear up to 70 percent of the costs of the $10 billion facility. The AP story says the ministers said that the EDA should be completed and that "Germany and France will continue nuclear fusion research."

For more information, contact: Stephen O. Dean