Nansha enterprise secures new core contract for global 'Artificial Sun' project

A view of the Dongfang Heavy Machinery facility, a subsidiary of Dongfang Electric Corporation, located in Guangzhou's Nansha district. [Photo/WeChat account: nanshafabu]

A consortium led by a Nansha-based enterprise has signed a new contract with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization for the manufacturing of critical components for the world's largest "artificial sun" project.

The consortium includes Dongfang Heavy Machinery, a subsidiary of Dongfang Electric Corporation located in Guangzhou's Nansha district, as well as the Southwestern Institute of Physics.

The ITER project is the world's largest and most influential international scientific endeavor, jointly undertaken by China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Russia and other partner countries and regions. Its goal is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power by simulating the nuclear fusion processes that occur in the sun.

This contract follows Dongfang Electric's previous successful deliveries from its Nansha base, underscoring its established expertise in complex system integration and precision manufacturing for advanced fusion projects.

China became an equal partner in the ITER project in 2006 and is responsible for developing and manufacturing approximately nine percent of the project's key components.