DOE to Hold Dec. 20 Ministerial Meeting on International Fusion Reactor

12/18/2003

From: Jeff Sherwood of the Energy Department, 202-586-5806

News Advisory:

On Saturday, Dec. 20, the U.S. Department of Energy will host a ministerial meeting for ITER, a proposed international experimental fusion reactor. Delegations from China, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the U.S. will attend.

The ministerial meeting is closed to press. There will be a photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting and expected media announcements to follow the meeting that will be open to the press.

ITER is an international fusion energy research and development project with the goal of taking the next major step in the development of fusion energy as a safe, clean and sustainable energy source.

After a preparatory meeting in Vienna on Dec. 4-5, the delegations announced they had achieved a major milestone in the ITER negotiations, namely, full coverage of cost-sharing for the two candidate sites in the European Union and Japan.

Reporters planning on attending the events are asked to register by sending an e-mail message to jeff.sherwood@hq.doe.gov or by calling the DOE press office at 202-586-5806.

WHAT:

ITER Ministerial Meeting

WHEN:

Saturday, Dec. 20

Photo opportunity 9 a.m. EST

WHERE:

Hyatt Regency Reston, Regency Ballroom "B", 1800 Presidents Street, Reston, Virginia

Directions:

Take I-66 West to Exit 67 -- Dulles Airport Access road. Follow Va. 267 to Exit 12 -- Reston Parkway North (right turn off ramp). Go 1/4 mile to the 2nd stop light. The hotel is on the left.