MUNICH

A Canadian consortium, ITER Canada, has been set up to promote Canada's participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (see above), and to push for a Canadian site to be chosen for the reactor if and when it is built. Canada's involvement is channelled through the European partnership.

The utilities company Hydro Ontario has provided C$6 million (US$4 million) over the next three years, and other companies, banks and trade unions have guaranteed C$3 million. A further C$2 million is being sought from the federal government and the governments of Quebec and Ontario where the two potential ITER sites are located.

“If the governments do not come in, we will have to scale down our efforts,” says Peter Barnard, chairman of ITER Canada. Apart from Canada, only Japan and Italy are still offering sites.