The construction of the fist buildings, laboratories, and prototypes related to IFMIF-DONES will begin in 2022

The Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology Research (CIEMAT), assigned to the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and Escúzar City Council signed today the land transfer agreement for the construction of the scientific and technical infrastructure ‘International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility -Demo Oriented Neutron Source’ (IFMIF–DONES) in Granada.

The construction of the first buildings, laboratories, and prototypes related to IFMIF-DONES will begin in 2022, as announced by the Minister of Science and Innovation Diana Morant, who was present at the signing of the agreement. Minister Diana Morant stated that IFMIF-DONES will be ‘the largest international scientific and technological infrastructure in Spain, strategic in the transformation of our country’.

The event was also attended by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno; the Andalusian Regional Minister of Economy Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities of the Regional Government of Andalucía, Rogelio Velasco; the Andalusian Regional Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure and Land Planning, Marifrán Carazo; Secretary General of Research, Raquel Yotti; Mayor of Escúzar City Council, Antonio Arrabal; the President of Granada Provincial Council, José Entrena; Mayor of Granada City Council, Paco Cuenca; Rector of the University of Granada, Pilar Aranda; Director of IFMIF-DONES España, Ángel Ibarra; and Director of CIEMAT, Carlos Alejaldre.

With this signing, Escúzar City Concil transfers a land of approximately 100,000 square metres for the construction of the IFMIF-DONES facility. All the activities related to the project are currently coordinated by the Consortium IFMIF-DONES España, led by Ángel Ibarra and in close collaboration with CIEMAT and the University of Granada. The Central Government and the Regional Government of Andalusia have contributed with over €32 million to the construction of the buildings, prototypes, and laboratories, which will serve as support to the future IFMIF-DONES facility. In addition, scientific and technical staff has also been recruited for the development of the project and is currently working in Granada thanks to different research groups and engineers. Some of the hired staff will also visit Italy. Germany, France, or Japan as part of the international work to be done in this large-scale project.