*****

AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION

by the European Atomic Energy Community in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Conceptual Design Activities, together with Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the United States of America

The Agreement consists of:

A. The letter by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency addressed on 2 November 1987, to the Head of the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities to the International Organizations in Vienna, with Enclosure 1 (Terms of Reference concerning Conceptual Design Activities for an ITER and its annexes) and Enclosure 2 (Record of the Meeting of the ITER QIC, IAEA, Vienna, 18 and 19 October 1987);

B. The reply to the above letter by the Commission of the European Communities.

The above doucments A and B are annexed hereto.

A. Letter from the International Atomic Energy Agency

2 November 1987

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the recent discussions on fusion held in Vienna and to their positive outcome.

The attractions offered by a fusion power source are many. Fusion energy relies on an essentially inexhaustible, unifomly distributed and comparatively cheap fuel source. It is, in addition, more benign from an environmental point of view, presenting fewer problems in this area than many other technologies. The ultimate achievement of a commercially viable fusion based power plant is therefore universally recognized as a benefit to all of mankind.

Since 1958 fusion research has enjoyed a level of international cooperation unusual in other scientific areas, and since its inception the International Atomic Energy Agency has maintained a fusion programme which has been instrumental in facilitating this collaborative work. I believe that the Agency can continue to play the useful role in international fusion research it has played in the past.

Because of these considerations the IAEA has taken a keen interest in the high level agreements reached in 1985 to expand international cooperation in fusion research, and has been glad to make available its services to the prospective partners in the organizational phase of the new and important international venture entitled the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Conceptual Design Study. We are further pleased to learn of the successful culmination of this work in that recommendations to embark on the ITER Activity, in conformity with the agreed Terms of Reference, will now be made to the appropriate authorities.

The Activity is to be conducted by four Parties: the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the United States of America.

The IAEA will be ready to provide the services and discharge the functions outlined in the Terms of Reference, subject to the conditions defined in Annex IV of this document. In addition, the Agency will undertake necessary consultations with the European Community and the host country to define privileges and immunities that the Parties to the ITER project would enjoy at the site of the Conceptual Design Activities.

I now have the honour of inviting the European Atomic Energy Community to participate in the aforementioned Activity in conformance with the Terms of Reference (Enclosure 1) and the recommendations contained in the Record of the Second ITER Quadripartite Initiative Committee Meeting held in Vienna on 18 and 19 October 1987 (Enclosure 2).

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

For the International Atomic

Energy Agency

Hans BLIX

Director General

ENCLOSURE 1

TERMS OF REFERENCE

concerning Conceptual Design Activities for an International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

Article 1

Parties to the Cooperation

The Cooperation will be conducted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by four Parties having equal status and making equal contributions. The Parties will be the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) (1), Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United States of America (USA), hereinafter referred to as 'the Parties'.

Article 2

Subject-matter of the Cooperation

The subject-matter of the Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as 'the Conceptual Design Activities') will be:

Design activities:

(a) to define a set of technical characteristics of an International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and subsequently to carry out the design work necessary to estalish its conceptual design;

(b) to define future research and development needs and to draw up cost, manpower and schedule estimates for the realization of such a device;

(c) to define the site requirements for ITER and to perform a safety and environmental analysis;

R&D activities:

(d) to carry out in a coordinated manner specific validating research and development work supportive of the design activities,

with the objective of providing a design that is then available for all Parties to use either in their own national programme or as part of a larger international collaborative programme.

Article 3

Schedule and reporting

3.1. The conceptual Design Activities will be conducted in two phases:

- a definition phase,

- and a design phase.

3.2. During the definition phase, an ITER concept with a single set of technical characteristics will be defined in accordance with the Guidelines outlined in Article 4. This work will be documented by the Definition Phase Report which, after approval by the ITER Council, will be available to the Parties in November 1988.

3.3. As part of the definition phase, a preliminary programme of work for the design and R&D activities will de developed in accordance with the provisions of Articles 6 and 7. This programme, after approval by the ITER Council (Article 5), will be available to the Parties by mid-1988. Implementation of the R&D activities by the Parties will commence as soon as the programme has been approved by the ITER Council.

3.4. The design phase will commence as soon as the Definition Phase Report has been approved. The result of the design phase will be a Final Report containing the conceptual design of ITER and describing all the work carried out for the implementation of the Conceptual Design Activities. It will cover and document all areas defined in Article 2.

3.5. The Conceptual Design Activities will be completed by 31 December 1990.

Article 4

Guidelines for the conceptual design of ITER

The overall objective of ITER is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. ITER would accomplish this objective by demonstrating controlled ignition and extended burn of deuterium-tritium plasmas, with steady state as an ultimate goal, by demonstrating technologies essential to a reactor in an integrated system, and by performing integrated testing of the high-heat-flux and nuclear components required to utilize fusion power for practical purposes.

More detailed objectives and main characteristics of ITER are given in Annex I.

Article 5

Organizational structure

The Conceptual Design Activities will be directed and managed by:

- the ITER Council (IC),

- the ITER Management Committee (IMC).

The IC will be advised by:

- the ITER Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC).

5.1. ITER Council

5.1.1. Composition and procedure

Each party will nominate two members to the ITER Council. The members may be accompanied by experts.

The IC will:

- act by unanimity,

- meet at least twice a year; extraordinary meetings will be convened either at the request of one Party or at the request of the ITER Management Committee; the meetings will normally take place in Vienna; the members of the IMC will normally attend the meetings,

- elect its Chairman from among its members,

- adopt its rules of procedure.

5.1.2. Functions

The IC will have the responsibility for the overall direction of the Conceptual Design Activities and will exercise overall supervision of their execution.

In particular, the IC will:

(a) approve the programme of work to be executed for the implementation of the Conceptual Design Activities, and make suggestions on how the Parties may explore ways and means to comply with the objective of the cooperation set out in Article 2;

(b) approve the Definition Phase Report, other intermediate reports and the Final Report;

(c) ensure equal contributions of the Parties to the execution of the Conceptual Design Activites;

(d) inform regularly the Parties and the Director General of the IAEA on the progress of the Conceptual Design Activities.

5.2. ITER Management Committee

5.2.1. Composition and procedure

Each party will nominate one member to the ITER Management Committee. Each member will be responsible for the contribution to the Conceptual Design Activities by the nomiinating Party.

The IMC will:

- act by unanimity,

- meet as frequently as is necessary to exercise its functions and at places to be agreed upon by its members,

- elect its Chairman from among its members,

- adopt its rules of procedure subject to the approval of the IC. 5.2.2. Functions

The IMC will be responsible for the execution of the Conceptual Design Activities within the overall directions established by the IC. It will manage and coordinate the work so as to achieve a coherent and workable conceptual design of the ITER device. The IMC will report to the IC.

In particular, the IMC will:

(a) develop, regularly update and submit to the IC for approval a programme of work for the design and R&D activities, taking into account the schedule outlined in Article 3;

(b) assign tasks within the programme of work to provide for equivalence of contribution by each Party;

(c) draw up and submit to the IC for approval the Definition Phase Report and the Final Report as specified in Article 3.2 and 3.4, and such other intermediate reports as may be requested by the IC;

(d) evaluate the efforts of the Parties on the basis of perfomance on the assigned tasks and report thereon to the IC;

(e) provide the IC and ITER Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee with the information necessary to perform their functions.

5.3. ITER Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC)

5.3.1. Composition and procedure

The ISTAC will be composed of 12 members (three members per Party) nominated ad personam by the ITER Council. They will be chosen so as to ensure that all areas of expertise required for the execution of the Conceputal Design Activities are represented at the ISTAC.

The ISTAC will:

- elect its Chariman from among its members,

- meet at the request of the ITER Council; members of the IMC will normally attend the meetings,

- adopt its own rules of procedure subject to the approval of the ITER Council.

5.3.2. Functions

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee will, upon request of the ITER Council, advise on scientific and technical matters.

Article 6

Design activities

The design activities, coordinated by the IMC, are expected to require:

- joint work (about 40 professionals) at one technical site for periods of several months,

- design work conducted at each Party's home site,

- workshops on specific technical issues held at places to be agreed upon.

Each Party will make equal contributions to both joint and domestic design work, anticipated to be equivalent to 80 to 100 man-years over the course of the design activities as defined in Article 2.

The detailed organization of the design activities will be set out in the programme of work to be developed by the INC in accordance with Article 5.2.2 (a).

An outline of the design activities is given in Annex II. Article 7

R&D activities

The R&D activities will focus on the feasibility issues critical to a conceptual design that meets the ITER objectives. The R&D tasks will include the physics and the engineering technology required for the realization of ignition, and also the development of a physics database, the auxiliary current drive technology and the nuclear technology required for the realization of steady-state operating and testing.

The R&D activities will be performed in the laboratories of the Parties and by using existing bilateral and multilateral arrangements, should joint work be necessary.

Each Party will make equal contribution to the R&D activities, anticipated to be equivalent to approximately $10 million per year.

The R&D activities and the detailed organization of their coordination will be specified in the programme of work to be developed by the IMC in accordance will Article 5.2.2 (a).

An outline of the R&D activities is given in Annex III.

Article 8

Funding

Each Party will bear the costs related to its contribution to the conceptual Design Activities.

Article 9

Participation of other countries

After consultation with the other Parties, each Party may involve in its contribution to the Conceptual Design Activities other countries which possess specific fusion capabilities.

Article 10

IAEA support

The services to be provided by the IAEA for the Conceptual Design Activities are outlined in Annex IV.

Article 11

Annexes

The Annexes I, II, III, and IV are integral parts of the Terms of Reference. Technical details are provided in Annexes I, II and III as a firm starting point for the design process.

(1) Including countries associated with the Euratom Fusion Programme.

Annex I

of Terms of Reference

ITER objectives and main characteristics

1. Programmatic objectives

The overall objective of the ITER is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. The ITER will accomplish this by demonstrating controlled ignition and extended burn of a deuterium and tritium plasma, with steady state as an ultimate objective, by demonstrating technologies essential to a reactor in an integrated system, and by performing integrated testing of the high-heat-flux and nuclear components required to utilize fusion power for practical purposes. The ITER, in accomplishing these objectives, will provide the database in physics and technology necessary for the design and construction of a demonstration fusion power plant.

The basic ITER device should be based on the scientific and technological database that is expected to be available to support a decision, at the end of the present conceptual design phase (1990), to proceed to engineering design and construction (target date for start of construction, 1993). However, to the extent possible, the design should be sufficiently flexible to provide access for the introduction of advanced features and new capabilities, and to allow for optimizing plasma performance during operation. The ITER concept will benefit from international cooperation by combining the technical expertise that exists in the participating countries, and by allowing the introduction into the design of advanced features and new technologies that are developed in the national programmes of any of the participants. The ITER should be designed to meet its objectives with reasonable cost.

1.1. Plasma physics objectives

The ITER shall demonstrate controlled ignition and extended burn of deuterium-tritium plasmas, with steady state as an ultimate objective.

1.2. Engineering objectives

The ITER shall validate design concepts and qualify engineering components for a fusion-power reactor. In addition, the ITER should demonstrate the reliability of its engineering systems and the maintainability of the reactor. The operation of ITER must demonstrate the potential for safe and environmentally acceptable operation of a power-producing fusion reactor.

1.3. Testing programme

The ITER should serve as a test facility for neutronics, blanket modules, tritium production, and advanced plasma technologies. An important objective will be the extraction of high-grade heat from reactor-relevant blanket modules appropriate for the generation of electricity.

2. Technical objectives and characteristics

2.1. Operation plan

After a period of commissioning and plasma optimization using hydrogen and deuterium plasmas. ITER operation will be carried out in two phases: a physics phase, devoted mainly to achieving the plasma physics objectives, and a technology phase devoted to engineering objectives and the testing programme.

Machine modifications, for example in regard to shield-blanket components and plasma-facing materials, may be needed between various phases of machine operation.

2.2. Mode of plasma operation

In the physic phase, the ITER plasma will first be operated in pulsed mode under conditions of controlled burn, in which any external power input needed for control of the plasma profiles and power balance is insignificant compared with the alpha-particle power. In this phase, the burn pulse will then be extended towards steady state, aiming at as high a Q-value as possible (Q is the ratio between the fusion power and the power injected to drive the burn). In the technology phase, because of the desirability of transient-free nuclear testing, the ITER should be operated in a steady-state mode, even if the efficiency of non-inductive current drive and limitations on the plasma beta-value will only allow a Q-value of about 5.

2.3. Confinement capability

The ITER should be designed to have a confinement capability sufficient for reaching ignition. The considerable uncertainty still present with respect to plasma confinement of reactor-grade tokamak plasmas imposes a careful choice of the ITER confinement characteristics. One way of quantifying these characteristics is via the plasma current possible in the device. Present large-tokamak experiments, not intended to ignite, are capable of plasma currents in the 3 to 5 MA range, with plans to increase this to 7 MA in JET.

The various scalings which have been proposed for plasma confinement in next-step devices imply that, at the magnetic fields accessible in ITER, the current needed for ignition ranges fom just under 10 MA to as much as 20 MA or more. While it is difficult to cover fully this range of projections, it is considered that the current-carrying capability of ITER for ignition experiments will have to be such that it covers most of the above range, implying a current that is about twice the maximum current obtainable in the present generation of large tokamaks. This current-carrying capability will have to be achieved with a safety factor q consistent with the available data base for stable operation at a plasma elongation of up to about 2.

In addition, the ITER design has to be compatible with the requirements of steady-state operation. Since the confinement required for a Q-value of about 5 is reduced relative to that requred for ignition, the plasma current may be correspondingly lower in the steady-state mode of operation.

2.4. Pulse length

The pulse length must be sufficient for the plasma to reach equilibrium burn, in which the energetic and thermalized alpha particles and impurities have all reached steady-state conditions. The pulse length should also be as large a fraction of the global plasma skin time as possible, so that equilibrium plasma profiles are approached, implying a pulse of at least a few hundred seconds.

The ITER must have the capability in the physics phase for purely inductive ramp-up and maintenance of the plasma current for the minimum pulse length required. Radio-frequency techniques will be employed, e.g. for partially non-inductive current ramp-up, to extend further the inductively-driven burn pulse.

The goal of steady-state operation will be met by fully non-inductive current maintenance, using neutral-beam or rf techniques, or a combination of the two. Non-inductive current drive should be implemented and tested in the physics phase as soon as possible.

2.5. Neutron wall loading

To carry out nuclear and high-heat-flux component testing at conditions relevant to a fusion power reactor, it is necessary for the average neutron wall loading to be about 1 MW/m2.

2.6. Neutron fluence

The ITER should provide a useful lifetime neutron fluence of about 1 MWa/m2. However, the design should allow the possibility of a higher neutron fluence, in the range of 3 MWa/m2

2.7. Breeding capability

The prescribed neutron fluence of 1 MWa/m2 for ITER corresponds to a total tritium consumption in the range 20 to 30 kilograms. During the technology phase, the ITER should have provision for a tritium breeding blanket that aims to achieve a breeding ratio as close to unity as possible without jeopardizing the reliability and availability of the device. For maximum reliability, the breeding blanket may be of non-reactor-relevant design.

The purpose of the breeding blanket is to avoids limitations on device availability due to dependence on external sources of tritium. However, since the achievement of a breeding ratio of unity cannot be assured, it will be necessary to investigate the possibility of an external supply of tritium of typically one kilogram per year. For the physics phase, during which only limited quantities of tritium will be needed, it is expected the external sources will be adequate.

2.8. Availability

In order to attain the prescribed neutron fluence of 1 MWa/m2 in a reasonable operating lifetime, the overall availability of the ITER in the technology stage must be at least 10 %. During years of peak reliability, the ITER should reach availability levels as high as 25 %. An important requirement of the ITER will be to operate at very high availability (continuous operation) for periods lasting one to two weeks.

Annex II

of Terms of References

Outline of the design activities

1. Schedule

The project shall consist of a definition and design phases. The definition phase will begin in March 1988 and will be completed by the end of September 1988. This work will be documented by the Definition Phase Report which, after approval by the ITER Council, will be available to the Parties in November 1988. The design phase will commence as soon as the Definition Phase Report has been approved and shall be completed by 31 December 1990. Details of the scheduling are the responsibility of the ITER Management Committee.

2. Major tasks of design activities

2.1. Definition phase

The purpose of the definition phase shall be:

- to establish the plasma design concept and determine major design constraints,

- to select major design features including impurity control methods, heating and current drive methods, magnetic field coil technology, breeding blanket types, materials, and reactor maintenance approach,

- to determine plasma major parameters, FF coil shape, PF coil locations and currents, and plasma operation scenario,

- to develop a preliminary reactor configuration,

- to identify R&D items necessary for ITER conceptual design and to propose them to the ITER Council,

- to document the conclusions in a report.

2.2. Design phase

The objectives of the design phase shall be:

- to develop an ITER machine conceptual design, including auxiliary systems,

- to perform a safety and environmental analysis,

- to develop site requirements,

- to define future research and development needs,

- to estimate cost, man power and schedule for construction and operation,

- to document the results in a final report.

3. Mode of activity

The ITER design shall be carried out as a single integrated project. This will require a sharing of tasks among the participants and transfer of information between the Parties as well as continuous integration of the effort. In recognition of the intensive integration effort needed to conduct a single design, joint work (approximately 40 professionals or about 10 per Party) will be necessary for periods of up to several months. Many workshops of shorter duration will be required.

Annex III

of Terms of Reference

Outline of R&D activities

The R&D effort specific to ITER should focus on the feasibility issues critical to a conceptual design that meets the ITER objectives.

Such R&D will need to be identified promptly and conducted expeditiously in order to provide the results in time for the design work.

Feasibility issues will include the physics performance and machine engineering features required for the achievement of ignition, and also the non-inductive current-drive and long-pulse nuclear technologies required for steady-state operation and testing.

1. R & D plan

The R&D plan should include:

- a definition of the ITER specific R&D tasks,

- a division/sharing of the tasks between the Parties,

- a specification of R&D milestones, required results and schedule.

The responsibility for executing its portion of the plan rests with each Party or, in appropriate circumstances, combinations of Parties working through existing bilateral or multilateral agreements. In assigning tasks, the IMC should take into account such agreements and also any operative governmental restrictions; responsibility for assuring that the plan is consistent with such agreements and restrictions rests with the ITER Council.

2. Reporting of information

Written reports will be delivered to the IMC as evidence of the R&D efforts performance. The reports should contain information that is considered pubished and does not contain proprietary or restricted information. Acceptance of the reports by the IMC would satisfy the responsibilities of the Parties.

Regular workshops should be held to report progress and adjust tasks and plans in accordance with the needs of the design effort. These meetings will be scheduled by the IMC as necessary for close coordination and convenience of travel. Access to other R&D efforts beyond the ITER tasks would be on a voluntary basis.

Annex IV

of Terms of Reference

IAEA support

The ITER Conceptual Design Activities will be conducted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The individuals nominated by the Parties to the ITER Council and the ITER Management Committee will be accredited by the Director General of the IAEA.

The IAEA will provide administrative support for the ITER Activity. This support will include:

- providing meeting and office space for ITER Activities located in Vienna, together with the required secretarial and other support services,

- providing, if needed, facilities for maintaining in Vienna an office established by the Parties to carry out those functions they deem necessary for properly conducting the Activity,

- providing assistance to the ITER Activities in arranging the following functions: organization of ITER meetings, editing and publishing of ITER technical reports, and maintaining a library of ITER documents,

- providing assistance in ensuring rapid communications between individual teams of the Parties,

- providing a forum for presentation of ITER results at the IAEA Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research.

The expenses incurred by the IAEA in supporting the ITER Activity will not exceed the budget allocated for INTOR. Expenditures required to support the ITER Activity above this amount will be borne by the Parties.

ENCLOSURE 2

RECORD OF THE MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR (ITER) QUADRIPARTITE INITIATIVE COMMITTEE (QIC) IAEA

Vienna, 18 and 19 October 1987

At the invitation of the IAEA Director-General Blix, the ITER QIC Delegations from the European Community, Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America met for a second time under IAEA auspices in Vienna. This second negotiating meeting followed the first exploratory meeting on 15 and 16 March 1987. The four Parties met to consider making recommendations for actions enhancing international collaboration in fusion for peaceful purposes to the benefit of all mankind. Deputy Director-General Zifferero welcomed the four Delegations on behalf of Director-General Blix. The four Parties agreed to a single Chair and asked P. Fasella (EC) to chair the meeting.

At the first meeting, the QIC had established a Technical Working Group for the purpose of developing proposals on the central technical and organizational matters for an ITER activity. The Chairman of the TWG, K. Tomabechi (Japan) presented the TWG Report. The QIC reviewed and accepted the Report with appreciation for the considerable work done. The QIC especially acknowledged the importance of the technical consensus developed and represented in the Annexes to the Report. The QIC then reviewed the draft terms of Reference and agreed upon a final version.

As part of the discussion on the Terms of Reference, the Japanese Delegation asked for a clarification of the legal status of the proposed ITER activity under IAEA auspices. Deputy Director-General Ziffero reported that, as a part of the Agency's 1988 budget process, an ITER activity had been fully considered and approved as an Agency project as defined in Article XI of the Agency Statute.

After careful consideration of the TWG Report, the QIC Delegation decided unanimously to recommend to their authorities participation in the ITER activity under the Terms of Reference.

The QIC then considered as a whole the matters of technical site for joint work and chairmen of the various bodies. The QIC unanimously recommended to the Parties that, in order to initiate the ITER activity as fast as possible, the following actions be taken:

During the Definition Phase:

(a) the Chairmen of the IC, the IMC and the ISTAC be appointed for the duration of this Phase, J.F. Clarke for the IC, K. Tomabechi for the IMC and B.B. Kadomtsev for the ISTAC;

(b) the meetings of the IC and ISTAC be normally held at the IAEA in Vienna;

(c) the technical site for joint ITER work be IPP-Garching.

The decision on the chairmanship, location of the IC and ISTAC meetings and the technical site for the joint work during the Design Phase will be taken by the IC before the end of the Definition Phase.

Pending formal agreement of ITER activities by the four Parties, technical workshops will be held among representatives of the Parties in order to prepare for the initiation of ITER activity in April, 1988. Dr. Tomabechi is charged wi the organization of this workshop.

As to the procedure for reaching formal agreement, the QIC decided to ask the Director-General to send a letter to each of the four Parties inviting them to particpate in the ITER activity under the proposed Terms of Reference, the acceptance of which would formally initiate the activity.

The Delegations each expressed their satisfaction at the high degree of cooperation evidenced in the meeting which has resulted in the foregoing consensus position.

Signed by the leaders of the delegations of the four Parties.

For the European Community

P. FASELLA

For Japan

T. KAZUHARA

For the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

E. VELIKHOV

For the United States of America

J. DECKER

B. Letter from the Commission of the European Communities

26 February 1988

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to your letter of 2 November 1987, addressed to the Head of the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities to the International Organizations in Vienna, inviting the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to participate in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Conceptual Design Activities, in accordance with the Terms of Reference and the recommendations contained in the Record of the Second ITER Quadripartite Initiative Committee Meeting (Vienna, 18 and 19 October 1987), both of which are annexed to your letter, together with Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the United States of America.

I have the honour to inform you of the agreement by Euratom to participate in the aforementioned Activities on the terms and conditions specified in your letter together with its Annexes.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Commission

Michael GOPPEL

Head of Delegation