Closing in on the centre
14 Jul 2014
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Joëlle Elbez-Uzan, head of the Nuclear Safety, Licensing & Environmental Protection Division
Some 940 cubic metres of specially formulated concrete were used in the first segment of the central part of the B2 slab.
A major milestone was reached on the Tokamak Complex worksite on 10 July, on the eve of European President Barroso and French Minister Fioraso's visit to ITER.
Following months of exchanges with the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and its technical experts at the Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), the hold point on the Tokamak Building slab (part of the Tokamak Complex slab) was lifted and pouring operations were allowed to proceed.
A 627-square-metre segment, adjacent to the Diagnostics Building slab on the north side of Seismic Pit, was the first of nine plots to be poured to complete the central area of the slab. The final foundation operations for the 400,000-tonne Tokamak Complex will be finalized when the perfectly circular last segment is poured before the end of August.
The final foundation operations for the 400,000-tonne Tokamak Complex will be finalized when the perfectly circular last segment is poured before the end of August.
Last week's milestone was made possible by the mobilization of all stakeholders: the ITER Organization, the European agency Fusion for Energy and the Architect-Engineer Engage who, together, form the B2 Slab Task Force.
Integrated team work has once again demonstrated its efficiency. So let us continue toward success!