SESAME on track for first experiments in 2015
The SESAME Council met on 30 and 31 May at the El Hassan Science City (EHSC) in Amman (Jordan), courtesy of Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan, President of the EHSC. Welcoming Delegates, Her Royal Highness stated that: “There is a great deal to celebrate at this meeting as we record that the SESAME project is making real and meaningful progress. We are all aware that SESAME’s location in Jordan places it at a crossroads for regional peace-building and development. This has never been more relevant as the region shifts towards a new dynamic of opportunity. As the region’s first major international research center, SESAME will contribute to regional scientific, technical and economic development at a crucial stage in the history of the Middle East. You will be a focal point for regional scientific collaboration and for cross-border networking.”
The Council was impressed by progress in the construction of SESAME which was presented by the Director of SESAME, Dr. Khaled Toukan (who is also Minister of Energy of Jordan), and the Technical Director, Dr. Amor Nadji. The radiation shielding wall is complete and the tunnels are ready for installation of the accelerators. The booster synchrotron will be commissioned with beam early next year. Construction of the new 2.5 GeV main storage ring is ready to begin, and the third generation SESAME light-source is technically on track for experiments to begin in 2015 with three ‘day-one’ beamlines, provided the necessary funding is secured. Some $20 million that is still required in manpower and operational costs will be provided by the Members of SESAME, in addition to which some $35 million is needed in capital funding (the full cost of SESAME and the day-one beamlines will be some $110 million, including the value of the land and building, which have been provided by Jordan, and equipment donated by various synchrotron laboratories around the world).
Commitments and offers confirmed and announced during the meeting look set to provide most of the capital funding needed to complete construction and allow experiments to begin in 2015 with three beamlines. Specifically the Council was very pleased that during the meeting:
Iran, Israel and Jordan confirmed commitments to provide US$1 million each this year and in each of the subsequent four years provided i) at least one other Member joins this initiative this year, and ii) another also joins in subsequent years.
The Turkish Atomic Energy Authority announced a decision to join this initiative, although certain formal steps must be taken before payment can be made.
Egypt reported that the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology has requested $5 million from the Ministry of Finance, starting with a budget allocation of US$1 million for the financial year that begins on 1 July.
The Palestinian Authority confirmed an offer to make an in-kind contribution of up to US$2 million.
Pakistan announced it readiness to make an in-kind contribution of up to US$5 million.
The remaining capital funding that will still be needed before 2015, and that subsequently required to construct four more phase 1 beamlines and other facilities and equipment, is being sought from external sources (governments - the EU has so far contributed €3.2 million - Foundations and other donors) and from other SESAME Members.
The Council noted with gratitude that SESAME has benefitted enormously from help and advice that has been provided by some of the world’s synchrotron laboratories (especially SOLEIL in France, but also ALBA in Spain, ELETTRA in Italy, the Swiss Light Source, Diamond in the UK and the Canadian Light Source). It also thanked UNESCO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for their continuing support, and the many laboratories and other organisations that have provided and funded training opportunities for SESAME staff and future SESAME users. The Council specifically thanked the Lounsbery Foundation (the first private foundation to provide substantial support) for a recently-announced training grant of US$100,970 which will help build a regional scientific community that is well prepared to carry out the first experiments and hone the skills needed to complete the construction of SESAME.
During the meeting, Professor Salman M. Salman (Palestinian Authority) was re-elected for a second two-year term as Chair of the SESAME Finance Committee
Closing the meeting, the President of the Council, Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith FRS (Director of Energy Research, Oxford University) said: “I am now confident that SESAME is on track technically, and will soon also be positioned financially, for experiments to begin in 2015. It is a remarkable tribute to the spirit of cooperation in pursuit of a common goal which underwrites the project, that SESAME is progressing so well during a time of external turbulence”.
Provided by SESAME
