- BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- The
European Union wants to start building the world's first nuclear fusion
reactor by the end of this year, with or without an international
agreement,
the bloc's research chief said on Monday, renewing a call for talks with
rival host Japan.
-
- Six partners are involved in the quest to construct the
first thermonuclear reactor -- the European Union, Japan, China, the United
States, Russia and South Korea. The EU and Japan are competing to have
it built on their territory.
-
- Tokyo last week rejected an EU request for talks on a
compromise.
-
- "I intend to pursue a six-party agreement until
the last possible moment," European research commissioner Janez
Potocnik
said in a statement after briefing EU research and industry
ministers.
-
- "I am at the same time determined that the solution
including the highest possible number of parties should be found soon,
that is in due time to allow construction to start before the end of this
year."
-
- The EU wants to build the nuclear fusion reactor in
Cadarache,
France, north of Marseille, but would prefer to have all partners on board
to share the cost.
-
- Nuclear fusion has been touted as a long-term solution
to the world's energy problems, as it would be low on pollution and use
sea water as fuel. But 50 years of research have so far failed to produce
a commercially viable fusion reactor.
-
- Potocnik set no deadline for an agreement but said he
would report back to the EU ministers next month.
-
- Copyright © 2005, APN Holdings NZ Ltd
-
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz
|
