Safety is a top priority for ITER

ITER is the most ambitious international collaboration in the field of energy. The seven parties participating in the project are determined to demonstrate the viability of fusion energy in compliance with demanding nuclear safety regulation.

This strong commitment has brought together more than 100 specialists between 29-30 January, from F4E and ITER International Organization, to discuss the current state of play, draw lessons from previous projects and highlight good practice that will be of great value to ITER. The event was structured along plenary and thematic sessions, giving the opportunity to different teams to discuss the latest French and International nuclear regulation applying to the manufacturing of ITER components.

Carlos Alejaldre, ITER IO Deputy Director General and Director of the Department for Safety, Quality and Security (SQS), and Joelle Elbez-Uzan, ITER IO Head of the Nuclear Safety, Licensing and Environmental Protection Division, commented on the importance of events like this which unite all actors around a theme which is of pivotal importance.

Jean-Marc Filhol, F4E Head of ITER Department, explained that it is imperative to instil a rigorous nuclear safety culture and encouraged all participants to learn from the valuable observations made by the French Safety Authority (ASN), linked to the inspections on the ITER construction site and the manufacturing facilities.