28th November 2001

Boost for Fusion from review of UKAEA

The government has announced the outcome of its quinquennial review of UKAEA, which began 18 months ago. The review reinforces the national importance of the key missions of UKAEA - environmental restoration and fusion research - and provides a vote of confidence in the way these tasks have been carried out over the past few years.

Fusion receives a double boost.

First, two independent reports, by AD Little and the Science Panel, published by the government today confirm the quality and efficiency of the programme at Culham. UKAEA welcomes these highly complimentary reports.

Second, for the first time in many years, the government has identified fusion power as a realistic energy resource in the medium term.

Amongst the conclusions of the quinquennial review are:

• Fusion will remain part of UKAEA. A Fusion Advisory Board will be created to provide technical guidance and help develop a stronger fusion identity.
• The separate Fusion Policy Review has supported the position of fusion within a medium term energy policy and decided that funding for the UK domestic fusion programme will transfer to the Office of Science and Technology (OST) within DTI

UKAEA welcomes the Government's conclusion that fusion power has the potential to make a real and valuable contribution to meeting energy needs in the medium term. This is the most positive Government statement about the prospects for fusion for some time.

Evaluation Reports:
     A.D. Little
     Science Panel