Thursday, March 2 2006 16:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India's participation in the ambitious International Thermonuclear Energy Research (ITER) initiative on fusion energy is an important step towards the common goal of full nuclear energy cooperation, the Indo-US joint statement said here today(Mar 2,2006).

ITER is a multi-billion dollar international project that seeks to make use of fusion energy for electricity production a reality.

The main ITER facility would be in Cadarache, France and all partners will participate in its construction, researchand development.

India was invited on December six, 2005 to join theinitiative as a full partners and will join the team that will work on the project.