The Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) held a liaison committee meeting with representatives of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) project. This initiative aims to become a unique scientific infrastructure worldwide, designed to test materials for future fusion reactors, contributing to the safe development of fusion energy.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress made by the permanent working group, comprising the regulator, the consortium, the Centre for Energy, Environmental, and Technological Research (CIEMAT), and the University of Granada, the Spanish scientific institutions leading the project’s development.

A key focus of the session was defining the licensing strategy for this radioactive facility, for which there are no international precedents. The progress presented during the meeting marks a significant step forward in developing a robust regulatory framework for nuclear safety and radiological protection, which must be fully established before the start of the operational phase. The necessary licensing procedures are expected to begin in 2026.

The CSN plays a vital role as the regulatory body in this process, demonstrating Spain’s technical and regulatory capacity to lead the licensing of such a unique and highly complex facility. The work of the liaison committee is crucial in ensuring that all safety requirements are accurately verified and approved. The existence of a strong and capable regulator is key to the project’s success. The head of the IFMIF-DONES consortium expressed gratitude to the CSN for its efforts in adapting the regulatory requirements to the technical characteristics of this fusion facility.

The committee also discussed the project’s growing international participation. In addition to the founding partners, Spain and Croatia, new partners such as Italy and Japan have recently joined. Japan has formalised its entry by contributing 5% of the facility’s construction budget, further reinforcing the project’s global and collaborative nature.

The IFMIF-DONES project is part of the European fusion roadmap and plays a crucial role in the development of the DEMO (Demonstration Power Plant) reactor. It will make a decisive contribution to international scientific knowledge and the safe application of innovative technologies. Furthermore, this infrastructure will enable the necessary advancements in materials for the safe construction of the DEMO reactor. DEMO will be the first experimental nuclear fusion reactor designed to produce electricity continuously and be connected to the power grid.

CSN Commissioner Francisco Castejón chaired the meeting, and was also attended by CSN President Juan Carlos Lentijo, Commissioners Javier Dies and Silvia Calzón, and the Technical Directors for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, Teresa Vázquez and Isabel Villanueva, respectively. Representing the project were Ángel Ibarra, President of the IFMIF-DONES España Consortium, and Francisco Martín-Fuertes, the project’s Safety Head.

Text and photo: CSN