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India keen on EU's ITER energy project
By agencies
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Monday, 14 March 2005, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI:India has evinced keen interest in joining the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reaction (ITER) project, an ambitious multi-national project of the European Union aimed at producing nuclear energy equivalent to that of Sun.
Negotiations have already begun for India's inclusion in the project for building the world's biggest nuclear fusion reactor, a senior EU official said.
"Negotiations for India's inclusion are at extremely sensitive stage," the official said.
The project, estimated to cost 10 billion Euros, will produce 'star power' plasma.
India, which has already joined another ambitious EU programme Galileo navigation project, stands a chance of getting into the multi-lateral ITER project considering its reputation in research and development field.
Differences between the EU and Japan over the venue of the reactor have also raised possibility of India's inclusion in the project. If the differences persist, EU could consider taking financial help from India, Canada or Switzerland.
Other countries participating in the program are the US, Russia, China and South Korea.
After the International Space Station, the ITER would be the largest international research and development collaboration, the EU official said.
"The Reactor, which works on controlled fusion reactions technology, will produce unlimited amount of energy in an environment-friendly manner. It will be akin to building a star on earth," he said.
Ahmedabad-based Institute of Plasma Research has already developed one of the first super conducting Steady State Tokamarks (fusion reactor) (SST-1), the official noted.
SST-1, with elongated diverter plasmas with 1000-second operation capability, is also getting ready for operation, he said.
EU is looking for partnership with India in science and technology, particularly in research and development considering the excellence demonstrated by Indians in this field.
"For EU, relations with India in research and development counts a lot because India has not been exporting enough brain to us compared to our competitors," said Daniel Descoutures, head of International Scientific Cooperation Policy in the European Commission's Research Directorate General.