On November 20 (local time), the 400-ton toroidal field coil TF08 of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) was successfully hoisted onto the sub-assembly of the Vacuum Vessel Module 1, marking another milestone in the sector module sub-assembly (SMSA) of the ITER. With this accomplishment, the three major components of the SMSA (the vacuum vessel module, toroidal field coil, and vacuum vessel thermal shield) project have been positioned, laying a solid foundation for its further advancement.

On November 4, the consortium led by the China Nuclear Power Engineering (CNPE) Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), signed the contract for the Sector Modules Assembly in Pit (SMPA) with the ITER. After the Main Machine Assembly and SMSA contracts, it is the third major contract inked between the two sides, marking a significant breakthrough in this year's international projects.

The signing of the new contract signifies a deeper collaboration between CNNC and the ITER, highlights CNNC's competitiveness and influence in the field of global nuclear power engineering, and reflects its commitment to the three-step nuclear energy strategy, which refers to the building of thermal reactors, fast reactors and fusion reactors step by step.

In 2019, the CNPE-led consortium that included China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Company Ltd., Southwestern Institute of Physics, Institute of Plasma Physics, and Framatome, successfully won the ITER Tokamak Assembly Contract 1 (TAC1), marking the beginning of its participation in the building of oversea nuclear fusion projects.

Reinforce Complementarity: Expanding the Consortium for Greater Impact

Following the bid for the ITER’s TAC1 project, CNPE has leveraged practical experience to develop a collaborative model that features complementary strengths and internal-external coordination. This approach has enabled the achievement of multiple milestones under the TAC1 contract, earning high praise from the ITER for safety and quality.

Building on this success, the Sino-France consortium secured the SMSA contract, further strengthening CNNC's influence in the global nuclear fusion sector. This March, Italy’s SIMIC joined the consortium to bid for the SMPA contract.

Rising to Challenges: Submit the SMPA Bid as Scheduled

In June, the CNPE-led consortium began their preparations of bidding documents for the new project. It was a huge challenge for the consortium to compile biding documents, which involve the writing of procurement applications in English, stringent technical requirements and biding time requirements. The integration of Italian SIMIC has made their trilateral relations to be more complex. Nevertheless, staff workers have successfully overcome the barriers in different languages, culture and working styles and handled their biding materials on time.

Bringing Together Strength: Secure New Contract

Through close collaboration, the consortium has worked diligently to refine and adapt the contract as required by the host. With an outstanding technical proposal and robust overall capabilities, the bid for the SMPA received full approval. On November 4, all relevant parties signed the SMPA contract with the ITER, a symbol of the CNNC's active role in global nuclear collaboration and the high-quality development of the sector. It has also significantly enhanced China's participation and impact in international Mega-science projects.

Pioneering Progress: Reaching New Heights on the Global Stage

Faced with the fierce competition within the international nuclear fusion engineering sector, the CNPE-led consortium has actively explored pathways for global collaboration and expanded its presence in the international market. From the TAC1 to the SMSA and now the SMPA, the successful signing of the three contracts have represented a significant milestone in China’s nuclear fusion engineering.

These achievements have provided invaluable technical and management experience in the building of nuclear fusion projects and strengthened international partnerships in the field. This progress has laid a solid foundation for creating a world-class nuclear engineering company and set the stage for further advancements in global collaboration.