Spain and Croatia sign joint declaration to boost their collaboration in the IFMIF-DONES fusion energy project

This international project - which, if realised in Granada, would consist of the creation of a large particle accelerator to produce neutrons of sufficient intensity for accelerated testing of materials to be used in future nuclear fusion reactors. With the signing of this declaration, the Governments of Spain and Croatia reaffirm their commitment to the implementation of the project and the beginning of the actions that will allow the IFMIF-DONES to be hosted in Granada.

The joint declaration also contains a series of measures to foster cooperation in the field of fusion energy, including the joint use of IFMIF-DONES support facilities in the two countries for research activities and training of personnel. Minister Diana Morant stressed that this declaration is "another step forward in the scientific collaboration between Spain and Croatia".

In the framework of the declaration signed today, the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education commits to provide components for the construction of IFMIF-DONES for a maximum value of 5% of the total construction budget of the project. For its part, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation will help its Croatian counterpart to identify the components with which Croatia will contribute to the construction of IFMIF-DONES, prioritising those in whose design Croatian scientific institutions have participated and which can be acquired in this country.

The joint statement is in line with the recommendations on IFMIF-DONES recently adopted by the Working Group organised by the European Commission through the Governing Board of Fusion for Energy, in which 14 European countries, including Spain and Croatia, participate.

The recommendations issued by this Working Group propose that the necessary steps be taken to set up the project in Granada as soon as possible, including the signing of memoranda of understanding between Spain and the other interested countries, especially Croatia, to consolidate international contributions to the project.

In this way, the joint declaration adopted on Wednesday between Spain and Croatia will serve to reinforce the conclusions of the above-mentioned European Commission Working Group and will serve to initiate the preparation of the Memorandum of Understanding between Spain and Croatia that will allow the IFMIF-DONES project to be launched.

In addition, the project would create more than 1,000 jobs in Granada alone, 400 of them high-level scientific and technical personnel from all over the world, which would contribute to the revitalisation of the territory and the fight against depopulation.

Collaboration between Spain and Croatia

Spain and Croatia have maintained close ties of scientific collaboration since 2018, when the two countries signed an Agreement that has served to frame and strengthen collaborations between the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research( CIEMAT) - an organisation under the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation - and Croatian research centres in areas related to the development of fusion as a source of energy.

In this context, the two countries have jointly participated in several European projects, such as those developed in the framework of the EUROfusion consortium. The declaration will also serve to enhance the preparation of joint experiments and the exchange of personnel between the scientific institutions of the two countries.

IFMIF-DONES

IFMIF-DONES is part of the EU's ambitious programme to develop fusion as an energy source, in an international collaboration that includes China, South Korea, the United States, India, Japan and Russia as key partners in ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). IFMIF-DONES also constitutes a fundamental pillar for the European objective to build a Fusion Electricity Production Demonstrator Plant (DEMO) by the middle of this century.

The estimated construction budget for IFMIF-DONES is 650 million euros, with a further 50 million euros for the start-up phase. In addition, the operating cost will be 50 million per year for the lifetime of the facility, which is expected to be more than 20 years. The Government of Spain has committed to financing 50% of the construction cost and 10% of the operating costs. Regarding the rest of the financing needed for the project, the government is already in negotiations with both EU Member States, including Croatia, and third countries, as well as with the EU through the international organisation Fusion For Energy, to provide the rest of the investment.

Last January, the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), an organisation dependent on the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Escúzar Town Council signed the agreement for the transfer of land for the IFMIF-DONES construction project.

The Government has already earmarked 16 million euros of European ERDF funds to advance the construction of general interest buildings and laboratories to support the future IFMIF-DONES facility, the minister explained.

Non official translation