PM Modi visits Cadarache ITER facility

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility in Cadarache on 12 February.

Key Highlights

• Prime Minister Modi is the first-ever Head of State or Government to visit the ambitious fusion energy project.
• They were briefed on the progress of the project, including the assembly of the world’s largest Tokamak—a device designed to produce 500 MW of fusion power by creating, containing, and controlling burning plasma.
• India has been a key contributor to ITER for over two decades, alongside six other members. Around 200 Indian scientists and associates, along with leading industry players such as L&T, Inox India, TCS, TCE, and HCL Technologies, are actively involved in the initiative.
• During the visit, PM Modi and Macron welcomed the signing of a letter of intent on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs).
• Both nations also renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s DAE and France’s CEA to enhance cooperation through the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP).