EU says it can't kick Russia out of flagship nuclear fusion project
The project, called the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), is intended to prove that the Holy Grail of clean energy can be achieved: an emissions-free source based on the same reactions that power the stars.
ITER is an international collaboration based in the south of France, to which Europe contributes almost half of the costs, with the rest shared equally by China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States.
Russia has faced international condemnation and growing isolation, as well as a raft of Western sanctions, since launching its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The EU has significantly reduced its energy dependency on Russia.
In May, three members of the centre-right European People's Party asked what the European Commission was planning to do to end Russia's participation in ITER, noting the recent plan to end the bloc's dependency on Russia for nuclear power (as well as fossil fuels) was 'silent on fusion energy".
Jørgensen replied today that the EU does not have the authority to force Russia out of the project.
"The ITER Agreement does not provide for the possibility of terminating the participation or suspension of the rights of any ITER Member, including the participation in the ITER Council – the governing body," the EU's most senior energy official wrote.
Acountry can leave only 'on its own accord," he said.
Russia, like the other international partners in the project, contributes 9.1% to the construction of the experimental fusion reactor. Consortium members' contributions are mainly 'in-kind', in the form of components and systems technology, with only 10% in cash.
'This unique procurement sharing program has an important purpose, allowing all members to gain direct industrial experience in key fusion technologies,' ITER's website reads.
Russia 'has fulfilled all its in-kind contributions', Jørgensen said in his statement. As a consequence, the dependency on Moscow was 'now reduced in this regard', he said, adding that 'bilateral contacts and engagement with Russia are minimised' and that the reactor's operations won't depend on Russian intellectual property rights.
(rh, aw)
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