The international thermonuclear project ITER and Russian contribution: 2022 summary

The Media agency TASS held a press-conference dedicated to Russia’s participation in the international thermonuclear project ITER (ITER, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) in 2022.


The annual press-conference of the Russian ITER agency was dedicated to the follow-up of the departing year, as well as to discussion of Russian achievements in jointly implemented large-scale project aimed at creation of the first international thermonuclear experimental reactor. The questions of Russian journalists were answered by the Director for scientific and technical research and developments of the State corporation “Rosatom” Victor Ilgysonis, the Director of the Private institution ITER-center (State Corporation “Rosatom”) Anatoly Krasilnikov and Director of the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Ivanov.


Speaking of the most crucial events of 2022 Victor Ilgysonis emphasized how important it is to elect a new director of the ITER organization after the decease of Bernard Bigot. “We have elected a young, proactive and experienced person whose direct participation in the project would introduce some fresh ideas and encourage to find solutions for certain issues that normally arise in course of implementation of such a project”, - said Ilgysonis. “It is of great importance that all participants are ready to tackle the emerging challenges promptly and efficiently by using any means and instruments of international cooperation. I believe that this year was rather positive, we managed to keep the momentum and I look into future with great optimism” – said the representative of Rosatom.


By assessing the results of implementations of Russian commitments under the ITER project in 2022, Anatoly Krasilnikov emphasized that it is utterly important to adhere to the component delivery schedule. “Where a project of that scale is concerned, having 35 member countries, the compliance with the schedule is the key because otherwise the entire cooperation will be compromised. For Russia, for us, the schedule is of the top priority” – mentioned the Director of the Russian ITER agency. “The project is currently at the stage when all partners completed the manufacture of the main components, the latter are being shipped and mounted at the construction site.


This year we sent 44 trailers with commutating hardware, delivered the first four out of eight gyrotrons, as well as some equipment for diagnostic facilities. In parallel we design prototypes of all the systems that lie within Russia’s scope of responsibility” – clarified Krasilnikov. The decisive role of cooperation within the framework of the ITER project was mentioned by the Director of the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Ivanov. “This product is a result of cooperation both international and domestic. As for the Physical-Technical Institute, practical works on creation and approval of the design documentation have been completed. As per one of diagnostics, we have already started to design mock-ups and manufacture nodes that are to be delivered directly to the ITER reactor. The work is progressing rapidly and so far we have no slippage whatsoever despite the current conditions. All those who participate in this process cooperate closely and comply with the schedule” - , shared Ivanov.


As for the question asked by a journalist regarding the current cooperation between Russia and its project partners, Victor Ilgysonis specifically noticed that the current thermonuclear community adopts the international mentality, where a sense of trusts to each other stands above any political tensions. “ITER is in some sense a unique project considering the circumstances. None of the ITER participants has called for restrictions of Russia’s participation, nor expel Russian scientists from the project. This is not just honoring Russia’s contribution to the project but a historical heritage of the international thermonuclear community that was formed in many ways thanks to the respectful policy once adopted by the Soviet government in terms of international relationships of thermonuclear studies” – said Ilgysonis.


media links:

rosatomРосатом, 27.12.22

rg Российская газета, 28.12.22

atomic energy"Атомная энергия 2.0“, 27.12.22

Проектный центр ИТЭР Росатом