The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization has awarded a €174m contract to Momentum joint venture (JV) to support the development of nuclear fusion reactor at Cadarache in France.

The JV is led by Amec Foster Wheeler in partnership with Assystem and Kepco Engineering and Construction.

Amec Foster Wheeler Clean Energy Business president Clive White said: "The Momentum partners will bring complementary skills to bear and embed a can-do project culture focused on safety, quality and maintaining schedule and costs.

"Amec Foster Wheeler has played an important part in the ITER project for over 20 years and this important contract underlines our key role in developing future nuclear technologies while continuing to support the existing fission power industry."

Under the construction management contract, Momentum, in collaboration with ITER Organization construction team, will coordinate the assembly-phase work carried out on site by ITER Organization or Domestic Agency contractors.

Momentum will provide the services, systems and processes to ensure that the assembly of the first-of-a-kind ITER Tokamak, the experimental machine designed to harness the energy of fusion.

The company will also be responsible for the installation and integration of the supporting plant systems into the fusion machine and plant.

ITER deputy director-general and chief operating officer Gyung-Su Lee said: "With more than one million parts and hundreds of thousands of activities, proper coordination of assembly and installation will take strong teamwork between MOMENTUM and the ITER Organization."
During the assembly and installation activities, the project is expected to generate about 2,000 jobs.

ITER director-general Bernard Bigot: "The role of the Construction Management-as-Agent is absolutely central to the success of the ITER Project."

The scope of contract includes contract management, configuration management, project management, construction preparation, site coordination, works supervision, and activities leading up to mechanical completion.

Work under the ten-year contract, which has an option for a three-year extension, is scheduled to commence in August.

ITER Construction Management Section lead Kenneth Blackler said: "We look forward to the MOMENTUM team joining the project and working together with ITER experts to prepare and execute the assembly-phase works."