Kalistani Major History

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Bozo Experimental Reactor Achieves Fusion Ignition
Q=1.002 for 6 minutes yielding net +8.65 Megajoules of energy, tritium breeding cycle observed
Bozo River Experimental Reactor, Ananto
October 13, 5089


The Research Team behind Kalistan's first operational SFZP-E fusion reactor, Dr. Schmidt, Project Director(top right)

The biggest news in Kalistan at the moment is not the crisis in Lourenne or the latest record, but a major breakthrough in thermonuclear fusion development. For the first time in the history of the project, Kalistani researchers have passed the ignition point.

"We are thrilled to announce that on evening of October 11, 5089," said Program Director Dr. Janice Schmidt< "our team working on the sheared flow Stabilized, Z-Pinch Experimental Fusion Reactor here at the Bozo River Facility have reached and surpassed equilibrium in a Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction. We have calibrated the pulse to the correct frequency, and have created a stable column of burning plasma capable of generating more electrical power than it takes to operate the machine. We maintained the fusion reaction for six minutes before shutting down the machine, creating a net plus 8.65 megajoules of energy, and generating a net positive of tritium fuel, which we successfully fed back into the reactor over the test period. The implications of this breakthrough are quite revolutionary for clean energy."

The Fusion Reactor project, which was first theorized six years ago, was expected to draw more international investment than it has. "This reactor was built nearly entirely out of Kalistani capital," said Schmidt. "While this has slowed progress in some areas, it hasn't hindered us otherwise. We had hoped to have a functioning commercial reactor by now. But that is not far off now that we have reached equilibrium."

Schmidt congratulated the tenacious optimism of her team. "If it wasn't for the long hours, the willingness to try things which were unorthodox, and the resourcefulness of this team, we wouldn't be half way to equilibrium yet," said Schmidt. "It is due to the positive mental attitude and malleability of the team that we are here today."

Schmidt noted that she and the team will now vary the work schedule they have maintained for the last six years. "While one part of the team will continue to perform experiments with the reactor, another section will begin overseeing the construction of the first commercial reactors at the Bozo River Facility. The research team will begin experiments with higher wattage and move toward even greater compression of the plasma. Ultimately, we need to hit a Q=2 or higher to make this commercially viable."

Schmidt explained the role of the other part of the team. "The Construction team will built a somewhat larger version of the experimental reactor, that is about 5 feet tall and about the size of a sedan. This commercial reactor will ultimately become self powering, and will produce enough electricity to power Bozo River and the base here. As we reach higher Q ratios, new reactors will be constructed closer to larger cities, replacing the current LNG power plants, who will go off line one by one. KALNAPECO expects to maintain them for a period of 15 years as a back up, but then will decommission them, one by one. Plant operators will be retrained in maintenance of the new Fusion Reactors. Over all we expect the total cost of the project, including building, retraining and decommissioning to cost 375 million Rubles, over the next 10-15 years."

This major breakthrough signals a massive step toward a green energy future for The Republic. "As for other nations," said Schmidt, "I imagine KALNAPECO and KalMD will be willing to sell commercial reactors, but I do expect them to be sold at a premium, now that Kalistan has borne all the R&D costs. But as of this point, I haven't heard from the board about any foreign interest at all in Kalistan's fusion energy project, even from the countries that pride themselves on their environmental policies." She shrugged. "Kalistanis will celebrate this day regardless of what other nations will do."