The ITER nuclear fusion reactor, located in France’s Saint-Paul-lez Durance, is set to launch in 2034, according to the project team. However, this is later than originally planned due to the pandemic and issues with certain components. Originally, ITER was expected to start briefly in 2025 for testing with low energy levels. But now the updated plan involves experimenting with plasma from the beginning as a risk mitigation strategy. This change aims at enhancing the project’s effectiveness towards achieving its goals.
The ITER project is a collaborative effort among multiple countries including the EU, USA, Russia, China, India, Japan and South Korea. Since its inception in 2010, the project has cost an estimated €20 billion. Supporters of the project believe that nuclear fusion could provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source while critics argue that renewable energy sources should take precedence. Experts working on ITER caution that additional costs may amount to several billion euros due to delays in the project timeline caused by challenges posed by the pandemic and quality concerns with certain components. Despite these setbacks, the ultimate goal of ITER remains to generate clean and abundant energy for future use through nuclear fusion power.