Russian parliament ratifies agreements on ITER experimental reacto
Moscow, June 27 (UNI) The State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament, today ratified two agreements regulating the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.
The project, an experimental reactor in France, is being built with Russia's involvement, aimed at eventually generating power by nuclear fusion.
The agreement was signed by Russia, the United States, Japan, the European Union, India, China and South Korea in Paris on November 21, 2006.
Under the deal, the signatories agreed to fund the construction of the ITER project.
The agreement provides immunity and privileges for the organization overseeing the international project's joint implementation.
The 10 billion dollar project to build the reactor in Cadarache near Marseilles in south France, is designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological potential of nuclear fusion amid concerns over growing energy consumption and the impact of conventional fossil fuels on the environment.
The first thermonuclear reactor is expected to be built by 2016.
The European Union will cover 40 percent of the costs and the other participants will contribute 10 percent each.
UNI