Press Releases 2005

U.S. Supports Indian Involvement in ITER

December 6, 2005  (Hindi)

New Delhi -- The United States on Tuesday strongly supported India's application to join the multi-billion dollar international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) project. The Unites States and its ITER partners - the European Union, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and China - agreed at the ITER negotiations meeting in Jeju, South Korea, to invite India as a full partner. U.S. support was instrumental in ensuring final agreement.

President Bush pledged to consult other ITER members about India's accession in the July 18 Joint Statement with Prime Minister Singh.

The ITER invitation also represents the first tangible and concrete step toward greater cooperation between the U.S. and India in the nuclear field, as envisioned by President Bush in the July 18 Joint Statement.

The main ITER facility will be built in Cadarache, France, and all ITER partners will participate in its construction, development, and research.

ITER (pronounced "eater") is the experimental step between the latest studies of plasma physics and future electricity-producing fusion power plants. For more information, please visit the Department of Energy's ITER website: http://www.ofes.fusion.doe.gov/iter.html