[cdn-nucl-l] FPN00-3 Fusion Program Notes - ITER Site in Canada Proposed (fwd)

[Adam Gordon McLean <mclean@ecf.utoronto.ca>]

Hi All!

	This is from the Fusion Power Associates (American) anouncing the
Canadian bid for ITER.  I belive the decision is supposed to come next
year some time but it looks like we're in as a strong option. 

	Adam

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 15:24:43 -0500
From: "Stephen O. Dean" <fpa@compuserve.com>
To: Blind.Copy.Receiver@compuserve.com
Subject: FPN00-3  Fusion Program Notes - ITER Site in Canada Proposed



FPN00-3  Fusion Program Notes - ITER Site in Canada Proposed    

Stephen O. Dean
Fusion Power Associates
February 4, 2000

At a meeting of the ITER Parties (European Union, Japan and Russia),
January 19-20 in Tokyo, the Parties "took note also of the interest
expressed by Canada through the EU in offering to host ITER in Canada." 
ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, would be the
world's first power-producing fusion experimental reactor and has
an estimated construction cost of $5 billion.  The U.S. was forced by
Congress to withdraw from the project in 1998 (FPN98-30), but the ITER
Parties are hopeful that the U. S. will rejoin the project at a later date.
 The Parties are scheduled to decide whether and where to construct ITER in
2001.

The Canadian proposal was officially presented to the ITER Parties through
the representatives of the European Union (EU) following receipt of a
January 11 letter from Ralph Goodale, Ministre of Natural Resources Canada
to Phillip Busquin Commissioner for Research, EU, in which Goodale states,
"I am writing to confirm that ITER Canada will
soon be forwarding to your Services an expression of interest to host the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project."  ITER
Canada subsequently provided a 38-page document entitled "ITER Canada
Expression of Interest to Host ITER."  The document is available at the
ITER Canada web site (http://itercanada.com/host/index.cfm/).

The ITER Canada expression of interest document states that "Canada has two
excellent sites for the ITER facility.  The Bruce site is located 250
kilometres northwest of Toronto on the shores of Lake Huron.  The
Darlington site is located on Lake Ontario 60 kilometres east of Toronto. 
The sites are both owned by Ontario Power Generation (a successor company
to Ontario Hydro), one of the world's largest electricity generation
companies." 

The document states, "ITER Canada anticipates that the Government of Canada
would be a signatory to an international agreement that would be
established by the Parties to govern the project."  It says, "We will
provide all the necessary support and facilitation to ensure smooth
implementation of the project, including application to responsible
authorities for regulatory approvals, technical infrastructure and a
skilled labour force, as well as pre-negotiated union agreements and
contracts for critical ITER inputs including labour, tritium, power and
site services."  The document says, "In addition to the site and its
preparation described above, ITER Canada expects to contribute further up
to 25% of anticipated construction costs and an amount to be determined in
the range of 10-20 percent of the reference operating costs for ITER. 
Financial contributions will be provided by a combination of the private
sector and the Government of Ontario."  The document cautions, "This
statement is not to be considered a formal offer of commitment.  A formal
offer will be submitted in 2001."  For further information, view the ITER
Canada web site or contact Don Dautovich (dautovich@itercanada.com).