The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) has held a new session of the IFMIF-DONES project Liaison Committee, a key scientific infrastructure for the development of materials for future nuclear fusion reactors. This meeting is part of the regular follow-up that the regulator maintains with the consortium to ensure compliance with safety and radiological protection requirements throughout all phases of the project.

This latest meeting focused on verifying regulatory compliance, reviewing the timetable for the different milestones required for the licensing of the facility and confirming that they are being met. The work of the CSN is essential to ensure that all safety requirements are properly verified and approved, in line with the regulatory strategy established at the previous Committee meeting.

Councillor Francisco Castejón, who chairs these meetings, stated that “the IFMIF-DONES project is progressing at a good pace and is meeting the milestones set by the CSN.” He also recalled that the CSN works to guarantee the safety and radiological protection of the project. These monitoring and coordination meetings facilitate the licensing process by allowing the regulator to stay informed about scientific developments and new challenges of the facility from a safety perspective.

During the meeting, the general status of the project and a summary of the actions of the working group were reviewed, as well as progress in the construction of the infrastructure. The Committee noted that the buildings that will house the accelerator facilities are under construction and that components and equipment that will form part of them are being received. The meeting also served to introduce the new interim director of the consortium, Moisés Weber, following the retirement of Ángel Ibarra.

The Committee also addressed other matters of interest related to future planning and technical coordination, reaffirming the importance of maintaining fluid communication among all parties involved.

In addition to Councillor Castejón, the meeting was attended by the President of the regulator, Juan Carlos Lentijo; councillors Javier Dies and Silvia Calzón; and the Technical Directors for Nuclear Safety and Radiological Protection, Teresa Vázquez and Isabel Villanueva, respectively. On behalf of the consortium, the project’s Head of Safety, Francisco Martín-Fuertes, also took part.

Text and photo: CSN