ITER: the Federal Council seeks parliamentary approval

The Swiss Parliament is due to give its verdict on switzerland's involvement in the ITER project. The Swiss paticipation in ITER has been discussed in two exchanges of letters between Federal Council and EURATOM
The Federal Council is proposing that the parliament approve the letters exchanged with European Energy Community that will govern the cooperative partnership.
www.romandie.com

First invitation to tender issued by Fusion for Energy

18/04/2008

The Barcelona-based Fusion for Energy organisation (F4E) is responsible for Europe's contribution to the ITER project. Half the components required for the reactor will be supplied by Europe. On 15th April, F4E launched its first procurement process for the supply of chronium-plated copper strands for ITER's superconducting magnets. This first procurement contract is a new opportunity for European industry and research organisations.
cordis.europa.eu

South Korea and France to cooperate further for the ITER project

17/04/2008

According to the South Korean Education, Science and Technology Minister,French and South Korean representatives met on 15th and 16th April to discuss bilateral cooperation in nuclear power. Amongst the issues discussed was how to increase cooperation on the ITER project.
www.french.xinhuanet.com

ITER Agreement published by Decree

15/04/2008

Decree N°2008-334 dated 11th April 2008" publishing the agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation pertaining to the headquaters of the ITER Organization and the ITER Organization's privileges and immuniteis on French territory' was published in the Official Gazette on 13th April.
www.legifrance.gouv.fr

French Nuclear Safety Authority issues its annual safety report

14/04/2008

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), an independent administrative authority created by law on 13th June 2006, has submitted its first annual report on "The State of Nuclear Safety and radiological protection in France in 2007" to the Parliamentary Office for the Assessment of Scientific and Technological Choices(Opecst). Chapter XIV - Nuclear Research Facilities and other Nuclear Facilities has a section on the ITER project, which states that: "The Preliminary Safety Report on the facility was filed in early 2008, with a view to initiating the construction authorisation procedure"
More : www.asn.fr

Cadarache celebrates twenty years of Tore Supra, ITER's forerunner

03/04/2008

The Tore Supra tokamak is a machine that “confines” plasma within a magnetic field in order to maintain the nuclear fusion activity taking place inside it. Tore Supra has been in operation for twenty years, and is one of the reasons for CEA Cadarache’s worldwide renown. The site has since been chosen to host the future ITER reactor. The ITER project, which is not yet built, already has a successor. A subsequent tokamat, referred to as “DEMO” will be capable of generating six times more power than ITER.
“ La Provence “ p.32 – 3 Apr 08

"ITER News" on Radio Verdon

03/04/2008

Since 28th March 2008, Radio Verdon (96.5 FM) has been broadcasting “ITER News” every Friday at 5:00 pm, with a repeat on Saturday at 8:50 am. It is a 7-minute bilingual programme, in French and English, giving a progress report on the ITER project. The programmes are also available via the Radio Verdon website.
www.radio-verdon.com

Open Day at the Manosque International School

03/04/2008

The Manosque International School, currently based in temporary housing at the Lycée des Iscles, Manosque, held an open day for families on 29th March. Around a hundred students, whose parents work at the ITER site in Cadarache, joined the school in September 2007. Over the last few months, the children have been enjoying ever increasing opportunities to engage in multicultural exchanges.
www.itercad.org