Funding deal for Iter sun project

AN EXTRA 1.4bn euros has been granted towards the Iter reactor project in the south of France.

The project, based in Cadarache near Manosque, will seek to replicate nuclear fusion, the process behind the sun's own power, when completed in 2019.

Its future had looked in doubt due to rising costs and cuts in government spending.

The Iter project was initially planned to cost ten billion euros over thirty years, shared between the seven partners taking part; Japan, India, the US, the EU, South Korea, China and Russia.

The budget has since risen to 16 billion euros with 45% coming from the EU.

Photo:Iter