24.05.2007 // Web-site of the Government of the Russian Federation

Today the Russian Government is considering a bill on the ratification of the agreement on the establishment of ITER International Fusion Energy Organization

Today, the Government of the Russian Federation is considering the bill “On the Ratification of the Agreement on the Establishment of ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project.”

The deputy head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy Vladimir Travkin is to make a report.

The Agreement on the Establishment of ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (ITER Agreement) and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project have been drafted as a result of negotiations with delegations of the EU, India, China, Korea, the United States and Japan. The ITER Agreement was signed by all the negotiating parties, while the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities — by six of the seven countries. Only the Americans refused to sign the document and said that they would provide privileges and immunities to the ITER Organization in line with their national law on international organizations.

The agreements were signed on behalf of the Russian Federation in Paris on Nov 21 2006. Both agreements are subject to ratification according to the Federal Law “On International Agreements of the Russian Federation” as they contain rules that are different from those stipulated in the RF legislation.

The agreements will be ratified simultaneously as the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities is an addendum to the ITER Agreement and is essential to the implementation of the principal Agreement.

The agreements constitute necessary international regulatory framework for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project – a project that will become a scientific-technical basis for thermonuclear power engineering, one of the safest and the most promising directions of power engineering.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate the scientific and technological capacities of thermonuclear energy. The project is based on the “tokomak” system, a machine designed by Russian scientists for producing a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) magnetic field for confining plasma. The project was started in 1985 by the Soviet Union and France.

Since the project will be implemented in the territory of the EU – in France – the Europeans are ready to cover 50% of the total costs (or 45.5% with unforeseen expenses exclusive) and have pledged to prepare the construction site, including the necessary infrastructure. Russia will have 10% in the project, including the financing, the construction and the operation (almost $560mln in 10 years: the greater part of the sum will be covered by means of equipment supplies, while 10% is a reserve that will be used in case of necessity). Russia, just like the other parties, will be fully informed about the course of the project, i.e. making a 10% contribution ($560mln), Russia will get all necessary scientific-technical information about this $5.6bln project.

According to the ITER Agreement, the representation of Russia (just like those of the other parties) in the Organization will be equivalent to its contribution to the project. Besides, Russia will be given one of the key positions during the construction stage – the post of Deputy Director for Science.

Russia’s participation in the ITER Project will allow the country to preserve and strengthen its positions in the sphere of thermonuclear fusion and to train necessary specialists who can be involved in future thermonuclear reactor and other projects.