At its Thirtieth Meeting on 15-16 June 2022, the ITER Council convened to assess the progress of the ITER Project, concluding that: “The project has maintained steady progress, reflecting the efforts of the ITER Organisation (IO) and Domestic Agencies (DAs) to succeed in the delivery of components and worksite installation and assembly activities.”

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) under construction in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in southern France is a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe is contributing almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA), are contributing equally to the rest.

The Council mourned the recent tragic and untimely passing of former Director General Bernard Bigot and has launched a process to select a successor. As to physical progress, the Council noted achievements since its last meeting in November 2021, including the continued delivery of major components and progress in machine assembly. This includes:

  • The first vacuum vessel sector sub-assembly, incorporating two associated toroidal field (TF) coils and thermal shield elements, has been completed and installed in the tokamak pit; and the third vacuum vessel sector has been delivered to the ITER site.
  • With the completion of the cryostat top lid, all elements of the cryostat are now complete.
  • The delivery of superconducting magnets now includes three of six poloidal field coils, 13 of 18 toroidal field coils, and two of six central solenoid modules, with additional coils completed and ready for shipment, and with all bottom correction coils now installed.
  • Major progress has been achieved on plant systems: the cooling water system has been turned over for commissioning; the cryogenics plant has completed construction and is now in functional testing; and 100% of the equipment needed for First Plasma has been installed in the magnet conversion buildings.

Image: Members of the ITER Council convene to discuss the progress of the ITER Project (Courtesy of ITER)