16.08.2007 // Interfax

Russia needs 30bln RUR for modernizing the experimental base of its thermonuclear power industry

The concept of the Federal Target Program “Mastery of Thermonuclear Energy and Creation of Scientific-Technological Base of Thermonuclear Power Engineering in the Russian Federation in 2009–2015” is to be finalized by the end of this year, says Yevgeny Velikhov, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

During a meeting today, Thursday, the Russian Government has considered the key principles of the strategy for mastering thermonuclear energy in Russia by 2015 and by 2031.

Wednesday Velikhov told journalists that in 2009–2015 Russia is planning to modernize and re-launch the experimental technological base created in the Soviet times on the basis of 200 companies, institutes and design bureaus and to spend estimated 30bln RUR on this project.

Velikhov said that these are rough estimates and the real cost will depend on the scale of the program.

“Unless we adopt this program, we may lose everything,” Velikhov said, referring to the experimental technologies and personnel existing in the sphere.

“In 2016–2031 we are going to produce materials for the construction of commercial thermonuclear power plant.”

“At the third stage we are going to test and launch the plant.”

Velikhov thinks that the first commercial thermonuclear power plant will be built in no earlier than 25 years — inclusive the 10 years required for the construction of the first thermonuclear reactor in France.

This project (ITER) costs 10bln EUR. Russia is to allocate 1bln EUR. The other parties are the US, China, India, Japan, South Korea and the EU. “The first commercial thermonuclear power plant will also be a joint project of those countries. But later each of them will go its way,” Velikhov said.