AFTER two years of acrimonious arguments, the debate about where to build the world鈥檚 largest nuclear fusion reactor has been settled. France is the winner.
Dispute has been raging since 2003 over whether to build the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) at Rokkashomura in Japan or at Cadarache in France. The French bid had been backed by the European Union, China and Russia, while Japan was supported by the US and South Korea.
The earliest ITER could be up and running is 2015. It is expected to cost up to $10 billion and is the next step towards tapping the inexhaustible power that could be released by fusing atoms of hydrogen.
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鈥淭he world鈥檚 largest nuclear fusion reactor could be up and running by 2015鈥�
Japan was given several incentives to concede to France. Over $500 million worth of contracts for constructing ITER could go to Japanese companies, and Japan could provide 20 per cent of the 200 researchers in return for meeting just 10 per cent of the total cost.
