Russian govt to provide 5 bln rubles for development of controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies

MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - Five billion rubles will be provided from the government's reserve fund for the implementation of the comprehensive program Development of Equipment, Technologies and Scientific Research in the Sphere of the Use of Nuclear Power in Russia in the period until 2024 under a decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the government press service said.

"There are plans to use the additional allocations for developing controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies and innovative plasma technologies," the report said.

Funding will be provided from the budget to the Education and Science Ministry, which is expected to receive almost three billion rubles, and also the state corporation Rusnano and the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, which will receive one billion rubles each, the press service said.

The nuclear fusion research reactor Tokamak T-15MD was launched in the Kurchatov Institute in May 2021. The launch ceremony was attended by Mishustin. Scientists want to use it to study ways of obtaining thermonuclear energy.

"I think you have very many ideas. We have just said today controlled thermonuclear fusion can become an inexhaustible source of energy, pure, reliable energy. Scientists all over the world are dreaming about it," he said. Thermonuclear energy research will give a powerful impetus to energy development, materials science and a whole range of related industry sectors, he said.