Global legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European Union organisation managing Europe’s contribution to ITER, on a €31 million mechanical handling contract, representing a further important milestone in the construction of its fusion reactor complex at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in Cadarache, France.

F4E has been set up to deliver the EU’s contribution to the ITER project. The purpose of the project, the first of its kind, is to construct what will be the largest experimental fusion facility in the world and is intended to demonstrate the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a viable energy source. The project is being supported by Europe, the US, Russia, India, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, collectively representing roughly half of the world’s population.

The mechanical handling Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) contract, which is in the range of €31 million, includes the provision of:

• two 750 tonne cranes, which will be used in the construction of the central tokamak reactor, allowing major reactor components of up to 1500 tonnes to be carefully lifted in place;
• two auxiliary cranes of 50 tonnes, for other lifting activities within the reactor assembly hall; and
• a specialised cargo lift, designed to transport components to and from the reactor during its operational life in compliance with nuclear safety standards.

Norton Rose Fulbright, led by infrastructure partner Andrew Buisson and construction partner Donald Warnock, advised on all aspects of this contract and has been acting for F4E since April 2011. In December 2012 the team advised Fusion for Energy on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract in excess of €250m for the design and construction of the tokamak reactor hall and associated infrastructure for the fusion reactor complex, within which the cranes and cargo lift will operate.

Andrew Buisson, partner, Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

“We are pleased to advise on this complex project, which has the potential to deliver a brand new source of energy. If successful, the project will act as a blueprint for similar reactors to be built on a commercial basis, with the ability to generate vast amounts of energy from raw materials of almost limitless abundance, without producing greenhouse gases or the high-level nuclear waste that arises in nuclear fission reactors.”

The mechanical handling EPC contract was signed by F4E on June 27, 2013 with a consortium formed of NKM Noell Special Cranes GmbH (Germany) and Reel S.A.S. (France).