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The Project

Site Preparation

The 42-hectare ITER scientific platform before building began. (Photo: 2009)

Site preparatory works were carried out from 2007 to 2009 as part of commitments made by France and Europe as hosts to the project. Work was divided into two main phases: the clearing of approximately 90 hectares, followed by the levelling of a vast area to house the buildings and technical areas of the ITER scientific installation. Other infrastructure projects during this period included the creation of 20 kilometres of hydraulic networks to connect ITER to the French network, the construction of storm basins and cooling water test basins, and finally the realization of a heavy haul road at the perimeter of the scientific platform for the delivery of components to the Assembly Building.

The work on the development of the ITER site was undertaken as part of commitments made by France, as the Host country, and Europe, as the Host partner. Work was carried out under the responsibility of Agence Iter France for a total of EUR 150 million, financed 40 percent by the European Domestic Agency for ITER and 60 percent by France.

In parallel, following the establishment of the ITER Organization in 2007, ITER staff worked to ready the preliminary design of the buildings. In 2010, the ITER Organization signed its largest procurement package (EUR 537 million) with the European Domestic Agency for the construction of all platform buildings and site infrastructure.

Building progressed in phases according to contracts signed for specific work packages by the European Domestic Agency. (See all building information here.)

Photo Gallery

The ITER site
2009-03-31 - Water for the installation will be delivered by gravity through underground piping from the Canal de Provence. And as for electricity, the same 400 kV line that feeds the Tore Supra tokamak, next door, will deliver power to ITER. About half of the 180 hectares reserved for ITER have been exploited.
The Tokamak will be here
2009-03-31 - The depression in the surface of the platform indicates the exact spot where the future Tokamak will be installed.
The platform is ready
2009-01-29 - 1,000 metres long, 400 me wide: the platform that will house the ITER scientific buildings is ready for construction to begin.
Two years of preparatory work
2008-10-27 - Over the course of two years (2007-2009), a large storm basin, 20 km of hydraulic networks (on and off site), and four cooling water basins were realized in addition to the 42-hectare ITER platform.
One year of levelling works
2008-09-22 - Site levelling works began in March 2008 and lasted one year.
Looking east over the platform
2008-09-22 - A Visitors Centre and viewpoint are created on a point overlooking the platform in 2008.
One day: the Tokamak Complex
2008-09-01 - The quality of the underlying rock and soil were tested in order to determine the best location for the tokamak on the ITER platform. The chosen area, a zone of limestone, will one day support the weight of the 400,000-tonne Tokamak Complex.
Levelling begins
2008-07-15 - The ITER platform in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance in July 2008 after the start of levelling works.
Moving earth
2008-06-15 - Preparatory site work took two years to complete, including clearing and levelling of 40 hectares for the ITER platform. Photo: AIF.
315 metres above sea level
2008-04-28 - Originally, differences of at least 40 metres separated the hills and vales of the ITER site. Engineering studies established the ideal altitude for the platform—315 metres above sea level—as the best technical, economic and environmental compromise.
A break, from time to time
2008-04-15 - Site preparations are continuing full speed ahead but, from time to time, a break is welcome!
The ITER platform is taking shape
2008-04-10 - Approximately 25% of the ITER platform is in place. Thirty-nine buildings will be constructed on the platform, which measures 400 x 1,000 metres.
A lot of material
2008-01-01 - 2.3 million cubic metres of rock and soil are removed to create the ITER platform—that's nearly as much as the pyramid of Kheops! Photo: AIF
2007-12-10 - From 2007-2009, site preparatory works were undertaken by Agence Iter France (une agence du CEA). work was divided into two main phases: the clearing of 90 hectares and the levelling of a vast platform to house the buildings and facilities of the ITER scientific experiments.
X marks the spot
2007-03-10 - Some of the first ITER employees stand where the ITER Tokamak will one day be assembled and installed.
It starts with the purchase of land
2007-01-21 - The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) acquired approximately 180 hectares for the ITER Project in southern France, near the CEA Cadarache nuclear research centre.
Construction | The stage is now set for the next act
Ten years ago preparation works began on the ITER site
We are ready for take-off