Iter ‘Heading In Right Direction’, Independent Review Concludes

3 May (NucNet): An independent review of the estimated €15bn (about $16bn) International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) project concluded it is “heading in the right direction” with a “sound, realistic and detailed proposal” for schedule and associated costs up to first plasma to be tabled at the next Iter Council next month. The Iter Council, the governing body of the Iter Organisation, said in a statement that the independent review concluded that major restructuring has resulted in “substantial improvement in project performance, a high degree of motivation, and considerable progress during the past 12 months”. The new schedule and resource estimate for the Iter Organisation provides “a good starting point” for a revised schedule based on credible estimates of cost and human resources. In November 2015 the Iter Council said the costs of the work involved with an updated long-term schedule and budget would be the subject of an independent review. Bernard Bigot, director-general of the Iter Organisation, said at the time the review would see if there are areas that can be improved or accelerated. Media reports have said operation of Iter has been postponed until 2025 from around 2020, but this has not been officially confirmed. Iter is intended to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power.