HUNDREDS of scientists’ jobs at Culham Centre of Fusion Energy are hanging in the balance unless a new funding deal for 2012 is reached in the coming days.

Funding for the Joint European Torus (JET) nuclear fusion project runs out on December 31, but European Union officials have yet to sign off future funding.

Four hundred permanent Oxfordshire staff work at JET, with hundreds of other European scientists visiting on secondment.

A settlement covering the next two years has been delayed by a year-long wrangle over finding an extra €1.3bn (£1.09bn) for JET’s successor, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), being built in Cadarache, France.

On Tuesday, MEPs in the European Parliament finally voted to approve the extra cash for ITER, after its budget spiralled from £5bn to £15bn.

European officials have not been able to sign off JET’s €60m (£50.3m) a year funding for 2012 and 2013 until the budget for the much larger project in France was officially confirmed.

JET associate leader Dr Francesco Romanelli told the Oxford Mail that the delay in agreeing funding for the research was frustrating. He said he hoped that European Commission and other member states of the fusion research agreement would sign off the new money in the next few weeks.

Dr Romanelli added: “The funding for the present programme expires at the end of 2011.

“Everybody in Culham is aware of the situation, but this is not the first time it has happened with JET.

“In the history of JET, we are used to having decisions taken at the last minute.”

He added: “There is big support from all the member states in the European Fusion Development Agreement, and I am absolutely confident that JET will operate not only in the next two years, but until at least 2015 or 2016 and possibly beyond.”

Research at JET started in 1983, with scientists hoping to harness nuclear fusion as an affordable solution to the global energy crisis.

ITER, which is being backed by the EU, US, China, Russia, India, Japan and Korea, will be a larger and more advanced reactor, building on the JET project.

The ITER funding will also go towards safeguarding jobs in Oxfordshire, with Culham scientists working on the heating and diagnostic systems for the new reactor.

If the EU had failed to reach a fresh funding deal, it would have caused further delays to the project.

Culham Centre for Fusion Energy chief executive Prof Steve Cowley said: “This paves the way for JET to continue its vital work in support of ITER.

“Resolving funding for 2012 and 2013 is great news for the future of the world’s energy provision.

“I can’t wait to see ITER up and running in 2020.”

Oxfordshire MEP Catherine Bearder, who backed the new deal in Strasbourg on Tuesday, added: “This is good news and will hopefully mean jobs are secure, while important research into this alternative energy source continues at Culham.

“But it’s not just about funding. It means we also keep research and training for young engineers right here in Oxfordshire.”