Westinghouse Electric Company will undertake the assembly of the primary plasma-facing structure for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, known as ITER, under a new $180 million contract. Announced on June 30, 2025, the agreement tasks the nuclear industry firm with the intricate process of joining the nine massive sectors of the ITER vacuum vessel. This work involves welding and positioning the D-shaped, double-walled steel container that will house the fusion plasma. The contract represents a significant industrial-scale manufacturing and assembly challenge, leveraging Westinghouse's extensive experience in the conventional nuclear power sector for a critical fusion energy project. Source: ITER
The vacuum vessel is a hermetically sealed torus, one of the largest and most complex components of the ITER tokamak. Its primary function is to provide an ultra-high vacuum environment for the plasma, acting as the first confinement barrier. The structure's double walls will contain circulating cooling water to manage the intense heat loads from the plasma, while also supporting in-vessel components like the blanket and divertor modules. The assembly process is a precision-critical task, as the final structure must meet stringent tolerances to ensure proper magnetic field alignment and plasma stability once the machine is operational. Source: ITER
The vacuum vessel is a hermetically sealed torus, one of the largest and most complex components of the ITER tokamak.
This award brings a major player from the fission industry, Westinghouse Electric Company, into a key role for the world's largest fusion experiment. The company's background in fabricating and assembling large-scale nuclear reactor pressure vessels and related components provides a direct transfer of skills and quality assurance protocols necessary for the ITER project. The contract underscores the increasing convergence of supply chains and expertise between the established nuclear industry and the growing fusion sector. This partnership is a clear example of the public-private collaboration model that underpins the construction and eventual operation of large-scale scientific facilities like ITER. Source: ITER
The assembly of the vacuum vessel is a critical path item in the overall construction timeline for the ITER project. The nine sectors, each weighing approximately 440 tonnes, are manufactured by consortia in Europe and Korea and delivered to the ITER site in France. Westinghouse's role will be to perform the final in-pit welding and integration of these sectors, a process that will take several years to complete. Successful execution of this contract is essential for moving forward with the subsequent installation of the tokamak's powerful magnetic coils and thermal shielding, bringing the project closer to its First Plasma milestone. The progress of this assembly will be closely watched as a key indicator of the project's overall health and schedule adherence. Source: ITER