Engineering news
The UK's national laboratory for fusion research has called for a clearer position on the funding uncertainty it is facing ahead of Brexit, as some non-UK staff depart the site.
The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) is the largest single research site in the UK funded by the EU, with tens of millions of pounds being invested every year. However, doubts about whether financing will continue post-Brexit and the possibility of restrictions on freedom of movement for EU citizens mean that the 100 researchers from outside of the UK working at the site are considering their positions, while five have already left.
The CCFE is home to the Joint European Torus (JET) experimental reactor, the largest tokamak in the world, and holds the global record for sustaining the longest burst of fusion. Workers at the site have expressed fears that if an agreement on future funding cannot be reached with the EU then the reactor may have to be completely dismantled.
Ian Chapman, chief executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, said: “Nothing has changed, but we’re uncertain. We’re waiting for the government to have a clear position on its negotiation stance and what they’re aiming for with the UK research community.”
Chapman said that the UK Government is supportive of the research at Culham and has indicated it will underwrite any money that cannot be accessed from the EU. He added that a significant change is not likely as their contract with the EU commission lasts till 2018, and that they are already in talks to extend it till 2020.
However, the JET programme is funded by the Euratom treaty, which is separate to the EU treaty, so may be protected from the impact of the Brexit vote. Euratom is a research programme that focuses on nuclear safety and systems, as well as developing long-term solutions to manage radioactive waste.
Despite speculation, the CCFE recently announced plans to upgrade its tokamak facility and commence experiments in 2017.