Croatia, Spain to cooperate on nuclear fusion research project

The two countries' science ministries signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding that will lay the basis of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) project, the Croatian president's office said.

The project is part of an European Union programme to develop fusion as an energy source, within an international collaboration that includes key partners in international thermonuclear experimental reactor.

It is also a key part for the European objective of constructing a Fusion Demonstration Power Plant (DEMO) by the middle of this century.

This international project, with Granada as its European location, will create a large particle accelerator that will produce neutrons with sufficient intensity to carry out accelerated tests of the materials to be used in future nuclear fusion reactors, according to the press release.

The overall value of the project is 707 million euro and Croatia will contribute to it 5% in the form of locally-manufactured equipment, state TV broadcaster HRT reported.