French Fusion Experiment Delayed Until 2025 or Beyond

An anonymous reader writes "The old joke is that fusion is the power of the future and always will be. But it's not looking so funny for ITER, an EU10 billion fusion experiment in France. According to Nature News, ITER will not conduct energy-producing experiments until at least 2025 — five years later than what had been previously agreed to. The article adds that the reactor will cost even more than the seven parties in the project first thought:'...Construction costs are likely to double from the 5-billion (US$7-billion) estimate provided by the project in 2006, as a result of rises in the price of raw materials, gaps in the original design, and an unanticipated increase in staffing to manage procurement. The cost of ITER's operations phase, another 5 billion over 20 years, may also rise.'"

Comments

overbudget, late, increase staffing

[omz13]

Why is it that most government projects always end up late and over budget? So much for getting the specs right, decent planning and project management, and PRINCE2, etc. And the bit that made me really chuckle, "increase in staffing to manage procurement". For crying out loud. Why not throw out the staff they currently have and get in people who are more efficient. Just throwing more people at the problem is not the solution. Of course, in these economically challenged times, one has to ask whether such gigantic projects are value for money. Why don't they do smaller less ambitious projects, which might actually produce something useful... but I suppose those big white elephants are always a great way of keeping a bunch of people employed.

Re:Crazy- this should be funded more to go faster

[moon3]

"Scientific" or other government project are not awarded according to our current need, but due to lobby of various kind.

Thats why military receives $600 billion and crucial stem cell research nil.

So much for our blessed democracy.

Speaking of democracy. Hell, you can even invade and wage a war in two different countries at once and blame the other party. This is fantastic system.

Re:Baah

[PopeRatzo]

That statement about profitability is most likely wrong.

Italics mine.

And I bet you don't know what you're talking about. Probably.

Re:Baah

[Poorcku]

equality? other than equality under the law, I don't care much about it. other types of equality make me afraid actually; i was born in a country where everyone was equal...but some were more equal than others.