As a part of his two day visit to France, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi along with his French counterpart President Emmanuel Macron took time out on 12.02.2025 to visit the ITER (www.iter.org) site   in Saint Paul Les Durance near Marseille, France. It was a historic day for ITER as the two heads of state visited the site together to celebrate the biggest human collaborative effort in the fields of science and technology. ITER  aims to demonstrate for the first time a possible clean green controlled source of energy from nuclear fusion of two hydrogen isotopes.

The heads of state were welcomed by Director General of ITER, Dr Pietro Barabaschi. The Indian domestic agency was represented by Project Director ITER India, Shri U.K. Baruah. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron accompanied by the ITER Director General, the delegations from two countries and senior ITER project staff visited the main ITER experimental building where the machine components are housed and are being assembled like a lego puzzle to realise the dream. Director General along with other specialists explained the project systematically along with the scale of challenges that are a part of such a project which consists of millions of pieces arranged with watch like precision. He also made it a point to stress that during the past year at ITER, the project has comprehensively met all of its objectives related to executing repairs on major components, achieving milestones, and meeting cost performance index targets. “You have come at a good time,” he quipped. “I’m glad you are here.” The visiting heads of state showed keen interest in the developments of ITER which is also considered as a “model of science diplomacy in challenging times” for which the entire world should be proud of. 

On social media a few hours later, Prime Minister Modi complimented the team working on the ITER project, calling it “a commendable step toward sustainable and limitless clean energy for the future.” 

Prime minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and President of France Emmanuel Macron at ITER site (photo courtesy ; ITER Organisation)

Director-General Barabaschi is explaining why ITER needs to be so big. “Not out of some megalomania,” he said, “but because of technical con straints linked to the goal of creating a burning plasma.” (photo courtesy ; ITER Organisation)

Shri Ajit Doval, President Macron and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi having a keen and close look at ITER model.

Project Director ITER India, Shri Ujjwal Baruah presenting a momento to the honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Titled “Collaboration,” or “सहयोग (Sah-yog).” The 3 D printed SS316 model has, maps of France and India placed within a circle symbolizing the cryostat—the world’s largest vacuum chamber and one of India’s major contributions to the project. Model Courtesy : ICPS, an ITER engineering supplier. (photo courtesy ; ITER Organisation)

Approximately 200 Indian staff members making memory with honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron in front of the cryostat lid, an Indian contribution to ITER. The 665-tonne component will close the cryostat after the vacuum vessel and major magnet systems have been installed and assembled. (photo courtesy ; ITER Organisation