India on time with deliveries for ITER  fusion reactor: Official

India is on target for delivering its share of components for the ITER  (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) venture reports PTI. Till 28 June 2016, India has spent close to Rs 2000 crores on the mission.

The ITER  (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project is aimed to determine if nuclear fusion could be controlled and used as a source of energy and electricity in the future.

The country is supplying nine different components for the 500 MW fusion reactors.

It includes cryostat, cooling water systems, shielding blocks, diagnostics and power supplies. India has completed 10% of its share of components which include a major portion of the cryostat which is a large stainless steel vessel which will keep the superconducting magnets of the Fusion Reactor cryogenically cooled. The vessel is being made by Larsen & Toubro at Hazira.

Private companies such as Larsen & Toubro, L&T Construction Chennai, ATL Bangalore, Linde Limited Kolkata are playing a significant role in the Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor and manufacturing some components.

India has kept aside Rs 2500 crores for the project. It aims to recreate the fusion reaction which takes place in the Sun and the stars. If successful it will create a new form of clean energy which will be almost endless.

The undertaking was started in 2006 and is a joint venture of 35 countries which includes China, European Nations, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the United States and others as its members.

Europe accounts for 69 percent of members working for the venture and accounts for 45 percent of the construction cost. It is expected to be completed in 2025 despite Brexit.

Gandhinagar-based Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) is the nodal organization which is coordinating the work done by India for the project.