MOSCOW — The international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) is to be built in France, ministers of six countries involved in the project have determined at their second meeting. According to preliminary information, the agreement was signed by EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik, Korean vice science minister Choi Seok-sik, Chinese science and technology minister Guanhua Xu, director of the office of science of the US Energy Department Raymond Orbach, Japanese education and culture minister Nariaki Nakayama, and head of the Russian federal atomic energy agency Alexander Rumyantsev.

The reactor's designed capacity stands at 500 Megawatts. Calculations have shown that construction will take up to 9 years. The reactor's technical design was completed in 2001, and during the recent three years the parties had been looking for the best location to build it. The country where the reactor is to be constructed must assume 50 percent of all capital and operation costs, and the remaining participants will be responsible for 10 percent each. The total cost is estimated at USD13bn.

Construction of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) would cost the countries involved in the project about USD5bn. According to Rumyantsev. Preliminary estimates say that the reactor will be completed in 6 to 7 years. All the financial and scientific commitments of the parties will be set forth in the international agreement on joint ITER implementation, which is to be signed by the end of 2005.

Rumyantsev believes that Russia's participation in the project will spur up the development of technology and achievement of scientific potential.