US re-enters ITER talks as Canadian bid revised

The United States has decided to rejoin the proposed ITER project for fusion research five years after it withdrew in frustration over delays in the site selection process. The decision to participate in ITER was announced January 30 by the Department of Energy and is being welcomed by Canada as a boost to this country’s bid to host the massive, multi-billion project.

The US decision to participate in negotiations for ITER’s construction and operation comes at a time when the Canadian bid is struggling. At the latest round of negotiations in Barcelona in December, Canada announced that it intended to submit a revised bid this March.

“The Canadian offer to host has a diminished chance of success given current developments in the negotiations unless the Government of Canada agrees to participate financially in the project,” said Jim Campbell, Canada’s lead negotiator. “In light of the competing proposals made by the European Union and Japan, the Canadian government is reviewing its current offer with a view to indicating a revised position.”

The change in stance is ironic considering that ITER Canada has trumpeted the fact that the Canadian bid was the only one without federal assistance.

ITER Canada was established in 1997 to promote the Canadian bid and has received key backing from industry and the Ontario government for its proposed. Darlington ON site. The decision to launch a largely private-sector backed bid was made after a request to the federal government for $300 million in assistance was turned down.

The US decision to re-enter negotiations is linked to US president George Bush’s National Energy Policy and his call to develop next-generation technologies as a way to enhance national security. ITER aims to demonstrate fusion energy technologies and systems required to make it a practical energy source. Canada is competing against Spain, Japan, France and Russia for the right to host the $6-billion facility, with the start of construction slated for 2006. China has also indicated its intention to enter the negotiations process with an official announcement expected shortly.

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