The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is confronting substantial new delays and increased costs, according to an assessment by its new Director-General, Pietro Barabaschi. The project, a collaboration among 35 nations, has identified key manufacturing defects and supply-chain failures that render its original 2025 target for first plasma unachievable. Specific issues include dimensional non-conformance in the first vacuum-vessel sectors delivered from South Korea and stress corrosion cracking in the thermal-shield cooling pipes. Barabaschi, who took leadership in late 2022, has initiated a comprehensive review to establish a new, more realistic project baseline for cost and schedule, which will be presented to the ITER Council for approval. Source: Bloomberg

The technical challenges are centered on critical, large-scale components of the tokamak. The vacuum vessel, a hermetically sealed steel container, is designed to house the fusion plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius. Sectors of this vessel, manufactured in South Korea, were found to have dimensional deviations that require complex on-site repairs. Additionally, corrosion and chlorine-induced cracking were discovered in the thermal shield cooling pipes, which are essential for protecting the superconducting magnets from the intense heat of the vessel. These components must be repaired or replaced, a process that significantly impacts the assembly sequence and overall project timeline. The complexity of these repairs, conducted within the tight confines of the assembly pit, adds to the challenge. Source: Bloomberg

The technical challenges are centered on critical, large-scale components of the [tokamak](/glossary/tokamak).

These setbacks follow a history of timeline adjustments for the massive international undertaking. The project's initial cost was estimated at €5 billion with a 10-year construction timeline, but it has since seen its budget swell to over €20 billion. The previous 2025 first-plasma goal was itself a revision of earlier targets. The new baseline being formulated under Barabaschi is expected to be finalized in 2024. This revised schedule will need to account for not only the component repairs but also the cascading effects on the intricate, multi-year assembly process. The delays at ITER underscore the immense engineering and logistical hurdles inherent in constructing a first-of-a-kind fusion device on this scale, a challenge compounded by its complex international governance structure. Source: Bloomberg

The delays at ITER, a cornerstone of public fusion research, occur as the private fusion sector experiences a surge in investment and activity. While ITER aims to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power at a reactor scale, with a target Q of 10, its extended timeline may alter the strategic landscape. The project's primary mission remains to inform the design of future DEMO-class power plants. However, the ongoing challenges highlight the critical importance of industrial-scale quality control and robust supply-chain management in the fusion industry. The resolution of these issues and the establishment of a credible new schedule will be closely watched by both public and private stakeholders in the global fusion effort, as detailed in our ongoing analysis of the government's role in fusion development. Source: Bloomberg