The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) has hosted the liaison committee meeting with representatives of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility and Neutron Source oriented Demo (IFMIF-DONES) project. Demo would be the first fusion reactor to produce electric power.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the progress of the permanent working group between the regulator and the consortium, as well as the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) and the University of Granada, the Spanish scientific partners in charge of the project’s development.

These advances are key to defining the licensing strategy for this First-Category radioactive facility, which has no precedent in the world. In addition to the project’s progress, the increased international participation in the project, with the appearance of new partners such as Italy, was analysed.

This committee’s objective is to prepare all licensing aspects of the future scientific facility that must be reviewed before the infrastructure’s operation phase. The regulator’s role is key, and it demonstrates Spain’s capacity to license this unique facility at the world level regarding nuclear safety and radiation protection. The necessary licensing procedures are expected to begin in June 2026.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Elvira Romera and co-chaired by Councillor Francisco Castejón. Also participating were the president of the CSN, Juan Carlos Lentijo, the councillor Javier Dies, the director general of Ciemat, Yolanda Benito; the president of the Spanish consortium, Ángel Ibarra; and the project’s head of safety, Francisco Martín-Fuertes.

Source: Nuclear Safety Council