EU states that it is impossible to exclude russia from European thermonuclear fusion project ITER

The European Union cannot exclude russia from the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) - the world's largest scientific project in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion. This was stated by the European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen in a written response to a request from the European Parliament.

This is reported by the Euractiv portal.

According to Jørgensen, the current agreement on ITER does not provide for the possibility of forced exclusion of any participant, including russia. A country can terminate its participation in the project only on its own initiative.

In addition to russia and the European Union, ITER also includes China, India, Japan, South Korea and the USA. The project itself is being implemented in the south of France, with Europe covering about 45% of its cost, and the remaining countries - about 9% each.

ITER is considered an attempt to create the "Holy Grail" of clean energy - a source based on thermonuclear reactions similar to those occurring in the depths of stars. If successful, it could become the basis of safe, non-emission and practically inexhaustible energy.

Russia, despite sanctions and international isolation due to the attack on Ukraine, remains an official participant in the project. As Jørgensen emphasized, Moscow has fulfilled all its obligations "in kind" - it has supplied the required component systems and technologies.

Only about 10% of ITER is paid in money, the rest of the contributions are made through equipment and technology. This scheme allows all participants to gain valuable industrial experience in key fusion technologies.

Jørgensen also clarified that bilateral contacts with russia regarding the project are minimized, and that the future operation of the reactor will not depend on russian intellectual property rights. Thus, russia's role in the current construction phase is limited, and its technological participation does not create a critical dependency.

Earlier in May, several MEPs from the European People's Party asked the European Commission what measures Brussels was going to take to end russia's participation in ITER. Among other things, they recalled that the new strategy to reduce the EU's dependence on russian fossil fuels and nuclear resources does not mention fusion energy.