Padua, March 10, 2025 – Today, the Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, visited Consorzio RFX in Padua, an internationally renowned center for nuclear fusion research. After the institutional greetings, the Minister met with the laboratory staff, expressing his appreciation for their dedication and passion in pushing the boundaries of knowledge to develop a clean and sustainable energy source.
Welcoming him were Prof. Piergiorgio Sonato, President of Consorzio RFX, and Eng. Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization. The visit was also attended by Dr. Stefano Fabris, Director of the Physics Department representing CNR, the Director of the Nuclear Department of ENEA, Eng. Alessandro Dodaro, Dr. Marco Ripani representing INFN, the Rector of the University of Padua, Prof. Daniela Mapelli, and Dr. Alessandro Banzato, CEO of Acciaierie Venete S.p.A., along with Dr. Olga De Pascale, Director of the Institute for Plasma Science and Technology ISTP of CNR, and Dr. Maria Lo Surdo, President of the CNR Research Area in Padua.
During the visit, Minister Pichetto Fratin had the opportunity to see firsthand the major research infrastructures developed at Consorzio RFX. He toured the facility dedicated to the development and testing of the neutral beam injector that will contribute to heating the plasma in ITER, consisting of two prototypes: SPIDER and MITICA, respectively the world’s largest negative hydrogen ion source and the most powerful (1MeV) accelerator for plasma heating. This facility, known as the NBTF (Neutral Beam Test Facility), is the only ITER laboratory outside the Cadarache site, where the experimental reactor is currently in an advanced phase of construction under a global collaboration. He also visited the RFX-mod2 toroidal magnetic confinement experiment, a high-priority Research Infrastructure in the National Research Infrastructure Plan – PNIR 2021-2027.
Consorzio RFX, a collaboration between CNR, ENEA, INFN, the University of Padua, and Acciaierie Venete S.p.A., is a key reference point for plasma confinement studies and the development of advanced fusion technologies for the world’s largest experiments. The Minister’s visit, along with the presence of representatives from the partner institutions, provided a valuable opportunity to share progress, discuss future challenges, and strengthen institutional support for a strategic sector that will shape the future of energy.
This visit was met with great satisfaction, reaffirming the value of research carried out with expertise, vision, and passion, within a network of national and international collaborations that knows no boundaries. Because in fusion, as in other strategic areas of scientific progress, the best energy comes from integration and cooperation.