EU to pour billions more into ITER project, first plasma expected in four years

The European Council has approved funding of EUR 5.61 billion (roughly CZK 150 billion) for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The funds have been earmarked for the project under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework.

The European Council has decided to continue providing financial support for one of the main international projects, which is expected to ensure sufficient amounts of cheap and clean energy. The European Union has already invested more than EUR 4 billion in the project, which is intended to pave the way for the commercial use of nuclear fusion in the energy sector, and is now adding nearly another EUR 6 billion through 2027.

The European Union welcomes the investment, saying that the EUR 4 billion invested so far has had a positive effect on the European economy, both in terms of GDP growth and employment. Some studies even show that the value of the money invested is already being recouped – according to an EU study, the project's impact on the economy is already positive (valued at EUR 104 million).

According to current estimates, ITER's total costs are expected to amount to around EUR 18 billion, meaning that more than half will be financed from the European Union budget. The remaining funds are to be provided by the other participating countries – the US, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and Italy.

The ITER project was launched with the signing of an agreement in November 2006, and its construction began a year later near the town of Cadarache in southeastern France. In the middle of last year, assembly began on ITER's individual components, which is expected to last until 2024 and involve 2,300 people.

Work with plasma is expected to begin from the end of 2025. Ten years later, work with tritium and fusion operations should begin.

Lead photo source: iter.org

Update 11:14: The final paragraph has been amended.