There have been “numerous and consequential” achievements for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) nuclear fusion project at Cadarache in the south of France in the last six months, but the effects of technical challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic need close monitoring if the schedule for first plasma is to remain unaffected, the Iter council said in a statement.

At its 28th meeting last week the council, which supervises the work of the Iter organisation, heard that the effects of the technical challenges and the pandemic will be further assessed after the consideration of “all possible mitigation measures” to prevent delays that could impact the achievement of first plasma scheduled for 2025 with full fusion power in 2035.

The council said the Iter organisation and its partners are facing unprecedented pressure due to the pandemic and problems manufacturing some of the €20bn facility’s first-of-a-kind components.