News from Astana Expo 2017
The National Nuclear Center of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC) and the ITER International Organization for Thermonuclear Energy have entered into the agreement on cooperation in various fields of activity.
The signing ceremony took place in Astana on the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference: Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Energy. The agreement was signed by Erlan Batyrbekov, Director General of the National Nuclear Center, and Bernard Bigot, Director General of the ITER Organization at the Congress Center, EXPO, Astana, Kazakhstan on June 11, 2017.
“The agreement signed today is the first step of our technical cooperation, between the NNC and the ITER organization. The ITER device will be the first thermonuclear installation that will demonstrate the commercial use of controlled thermonuclear fusion. On our part, we offer a unique installation, which we launched two days ago. The physical launch was just timed to the opening of EXPO-2017 and it is very symbolic, because we believe that the future energy is the energy of controlled thermonuclear fusion. We are very grateful to the ITER Organization and to Mr. Bigot personally for this opportunity of cooperation and a unique offer for Kazakhstan to be an associated member of ITER, which, in essence, will allow our country to enter the top ten countries that have access to unique achievements in the energy of the future“, explained Erlan Batyrbekov, head of the NNC.
ITER’s Director General Bernard Bigot noted that ITER’s mission is in line with the theme of EXPO 2017.
“I have no doubt that sustainable energy is part of the future. The ITER project is currently uniting 35 countries, including China, India, South Korea, Russia, the United States. These countries have joined their efforts to develop sustainable energy. We are grateful for the opportunity to cooperate with the National Thermonuclear Center of Kazakhstan – this is a unique opportunity: working with the newly created center for material research“, Mr. Bigot added during the signing of the agreement.
The signing of the agreement is an important step in research and technical cooperation in technology development for controlled thermonuclear fusion. It is for these purposes that the unique Tokamak KTM facility is being established in the premises of the National Nuclear Center, Kazakhstan’s leading research organization in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy. This project is being implemented at the direction of Head of State Nursultan Nazarbayev in support of the international program to develop controlled thermonuclear fusion. The KTM research facility will make it possible to solve numerous fundamental engineering and scientific problems, which is especially important given that, in the opinion of the international scientific community, in the foreseeable future thermonuclear reactors can become the main virtually inexhaustible, environmentally clean energy sources.
REFERENCE: The Ministerial Conference and the Eighth International Forum under the general title “Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Energy” have commenced in the first days of the “International Specialized Exhibition EXPO-2017: Future Energy” (hereinafter – Exhibition) to be held on the 11th – 14th June of 2017.
This key event of the energy sector is included in the Schedule of the Most Significant Events of EXPO.
The Ministerial Conference and the Forum are hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the KAZENERGY Association under the auspices of the five UN Regional Commissions (ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA, ECA, and ECLAC).
The partners of the Conference and Forum include reputable international organizations, such as UNDP, UNDESA, SE4ALL, IRENA, IEA, IEC, UNIDO and others.
The main themes of the Forum and the opening Ministerial Conference: Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Energy are energy security, trade and infrastructure, the interrelationship of energy, climate and food, and the development of renewable energy in the regional context.
The main outcome of the event will be the adoption of the Ministerial Statement containing a number of specific measures to ensure the achievement of the goals of the new Global Agenda 2030. The Ministerial Statement will be a part of EXPO’s Manifesto of Values and Principles – the main final document of the Exhibition.
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KAZENERGY Association expresses special gratitude to the partners that supported the organization and holding of the Conference and the Forum: Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, Samruk-Kazyna Trust Social Development Foundation, Tengizchevroil LLP, CNPC and Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V.
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Lightmillennium.Org, Astana, June 12, 2017.