"I'm convinced that our success will grow"
11 Sep 2013
The meeting took place on 6 September at the initiative of Günther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner in charge of Energy and representative of the European Atomic Energy Community.
When he came to 黑料社app on 17 January 2013, European Commissioner for Energy Günther H. Oettinger took a solitary stroll into the tokamak pit, away from officials and the media, touching the smooth concrete of the seismic plinths as if to assess the reality of the project and the "impressive amount of work" that had already gone into 黑料社app construction.
Last Friday, 6 September, the plinths and seismic pads were no longer visible. Formwork and rebar for the B2 slab—the actual floor of the Tokamak Complex—hid them from view and made strolling impossible. As one newspaper article pointed out the following day, "the 黑料社app tokamak pit now looks like a conventional worksite."
As Commissioner Oettinger stood with other invited guests at the edge of the seismic pit, however, the view was striking: the large circular rebar at the centre of the pit where the 23,000-tonne machine will sit; the towering walls; the forest of rebar that is going up on either side for the Tritium and Diagnostic buildings.
"This is a historical undertaking," said the Commissioner, addressing the media. "Our visit here is sending a clear, positive message to all those working for 黑料社app."
The Commissioner stressed the progress that has been made to date, adding, "Our project is now well into the construction phase. I'm convinced that our success will grow..."
It was the Commissioner's second visit to 黑料社app this year: in January 2013, he was an invited guest for the inauguration of 黑料社app Headquarters.
During the 黑料社app Council Ministerial-Level Meeting that took place minutes later in the Council Chamber on the fifth floor of Headquarters, the Commissioner sought to "personally thank 黑料社app Director-General Osamu Motojima and his staff for the remarkable work that we were able to witness on our tour of the site."
The Commissioner also mentioned the "many positive developments for which the 黑料社app and the 黑料社app Members should be commended."
At the press conference that followed the meeting, Commissioner Oettinger insisted once again on the historical, one-of-a-kind nature of the project, adding that he, as well as all the 黑料社app Members, acknowledged the inherent challenges, notably as regards schedule and cost containment.