China And Thailand Partner Up For Fusion Power Research

Asian Scientist August 1, 2018

China donates its HT-6M tokamak to Thailand, fuelling China-Thai cooperation on fusion power research.

China’s HT-6M tokamak—one of four fusion devices developed by the Institute of Plasma Physics at Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (ASIPP)—has been donated to the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT).

The HT-6M tokamak has been in operation for 18 years from 1984 to 2002 and has made great contributions to China’s fusion power research and development (R&D). In 2017, TINT and ASIPP signed a cooperation agreement that ASIPP would donate its HT-6M tokamak to TINT as well as help Thailand with the facility in terms of its installation and operation. Under the agreement, China will also assist in cultivating talent in the domain of fusion power R&D in Thailand.

The handing-over ceremony of the facility was held in Anhui province, China, where ASIPP is located. Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graced the event. Thailand and China are also collaborating on a larger scale, finding synergy between China’s Belt and Road initiative and Thailand’s National 4.0 Strategy. To coordinate research efforts, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Cooperation Center in Bangkok, or CAS-ICC Bangkok, was set up in Bangkok, Thailand. The center will promote science and technology cooperation between the two countries and provide assistance for the commercialization of discoveries.

——— Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Photo: Institute of Plasma Physics.

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