CNNC signs the ITER-TAC1 contract at a signing ceremony held on Sept 30. [Photo/CNNC]

The biggest nuclear energy project contract that Chinese companies have ever bid for in the European market - - the ITER-TAC1 contract -- was successfully won by CNNC and the agreement was signed on Sept 30, officials announced. 

ITER - - originally called the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor - - is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject.

It will be the world's biggest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment and its experimental fusion reactor, called the tokamak reactor, is being built in southern France. 

A total of 35 nations are collaborating to build the tokamak reactor, which has been designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy source. 

Yu Jianfeng, chairman of CNNC, said at the signing ceremony that the contract was the largest nuclear energy project financial contract that Chinese companies had bid for in the European market. 

Not only that, he said, but it was also the first time that Chinese nuclear energy enterprise had successfully participated in international science projects in the form of general contracting. 

Officials said the signing of the contract indicated that the high-end market for international nuclear power recognized China’s capacity in general contracting, as well as nuclear fusion technology. 

At present, a preparatory team for the TAC1 project has completed preparations and plans to be stationed in France for preliminary preparations for the project from the end of October.