Why Russia's Partnership in Europe's ITER Nuclear Fusion Project Continues
Despite international sanctions, Moscow continues to participate in the mega fusion project thanks to the rules and the technical components it provides.
Despite geopolitical tensions and sanctions between the European Union and Russia, the partnership and cooperation between the two sides continue in the ITER project, the world's largest nuclear fusion experiment.
The World's Largest Fusion Experiment
Built in Cadarache, France, ITER is an experimental nuclear fusion machine aimed at generating massive amounts of energy by fusing hydrogen nuclei. This massive project is carried out with the joint participation of 33 countries in total, including Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union.
EU Energy Commissioner's Visit to the Facility
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen visited the ITER facility on Monday, clearly stating that the fusion device is of key importance in terms of decarbonization and energy independence goals. Europe is the project's largest financial contributor, bearing 45.6% of the construction costs.
Rules and Critical Components
Since ITER rules do not allow any member to be expelled and membership can only be voluntary, Russia's membership was not terminated. Bearing 9.1% of the project, Russia continues to provide critical components such as the PF1 poloidal field coil that shapes the fusion plasma, gyrotrons that heat the plasma, and equipment supporting the power supply protection of superconducting magnets.
Political Divisions and Scientific Cooperation
Although the EU has excluded Russia from many research programs such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ due to the war in Ukraine, and institutions like CERN have suspended Russia's observer status, ITER signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's Kurchatov Institute in June. Russian Science Minister Valery Falkov also visited the ITER facility in July.
Security Concerns in Brussels
Proponents of the project argue that ITER is an initiative requiring decades-long international supply chains and that science must be conducted independently of political changes. On the other hand, the EU's dependence on Russia causes concern in Brussels; members of the European Parliament and some non-governmental organizations state that this situation in the strategic technology field could pose a security risk.