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India's inclusion in ITER acknowledgement as nuke state

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Dec 7, IRNA
India-Nuclear-ITER
India said Wednesday its inclusion as a full partner in the ambitious multi-country International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) energy project was an acknowledgement of it being a responsible nuclear state with advanced nuclear technology.

The decision also recognizes that India can significantly contribute to such endeavors, External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here Wednesday on the decision taken by the six partner countries: the US, European Union, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea in Jeju, South Korea yesterday.

"India's acceptance as a full partner is an acknowledgement of India as a responsible nuclear state with advanced nuclear technology, including in the field of fusion research," he said.

"As a full partner, Indian contribution to the ITER project shall be on the same basis as that of other partners," the spokesman said.

ITER is the experimental step between the latest studies of plasma physics and future electricity-producing fusion power plants.

The ambitious project, estimated to cost about 10 billion euros, aims at producing nuclear energy equivalent to that of the Sun.

The main ITER facility will be built in Cadarache in France and all partners will participate in its construction, development and research.

After the International Space Station, the ITER would be the largest international research and development collaboration.

The reactor, which works on controlled fusion reactions technology, will produce unlimited amount of energy in an environment friendly manner.

ITER is an ambitious program to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes.

India has expressed interest to participate in the project as a full partner on the basis of its advanced scientific and technological base, its established record of research and development in fusion research as well as from the perspective of a country with enormous energy needs, the MEA spokesman said.

The US, which strongly supported India's application to join the project, said the decision 'represents the first tangible and concrete step towards greater cooperation between the US and India in the nuclear field as envisioned' by President George W Bush in the July 18 Joint Statement with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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