Iran, France to cooperate on building fusion reactor: Official

EghtesadOnline: Iran and France have agreed to develop ties in the international nuclear fusion research and engineering project, known as the ITER, says the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization.

News ID: ۷۶۸۰۷۰

12 July 2016

Based on the general understanding between Tehran and Paris, for the first time and by 2030, the two countries are going to cooperate in setting up Iran's first thermonuclear experimental reactor that is expected to produce 500 megawatts of electricity, said Behrouz Kamalvandi AEOI Deputy Head and Spokesman on Monday.

According to IRNA, the joint project was launched ten years ago and by 2030 Iran will have its first thermonuclear experimental reactor while by 2040 the Islamic Republic is going to operate its first reactor of this type, Kamalvandi said.

The Iranian scientists are going to join ITER and cooperate with the international megaproject, he added.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project aims to make the long-awaited transition from experimental studies of plasma physics to full-scale electricity-producing fusion power stations.

The official also elaborated on restructuring the heavy water reactor in Arak and said that we have negotiated with other parties about the process of redesigning the reactor and about who is going to do the job.

Part of the restructuring is expected to be done by the Iranians and part by the Chinese experts who will do it under the supervision of P5+1 group of countries, he said.