A consortium led by China Nuclear Power Engineering Co Ltd (CNPE), a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), signed a contract on June 17 with the ITER Organization at its headquarters in France for the Ex-Vessel Assembly (EVA) project.

The agreement, which is valid until October 2032, marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between CNNC and the ITER Organization.

Since 2019, the consortium has undertaken several key ITER contracts — including the Tokamak Assembly Contract 1 (TAC-1), the Sector Module Sub-Assembly (SMSA), the Sector Module Assembly in Pit (SMPA), and the Welding Positioning and Preparation (WPP) contract. By consistently delivering these projects to high standards and quality, the consortium has reinforced its role as a key partner in the installation of ITER's core equipment.

Over the years, the consortium has maintained a strong on-site presence throughout the ITER project — building extensive expertise in major equipment installations, sector module pre-assemblies, final assemblies and welding preparations. It has also established an efficient project management system and strong international collaboration capabilities. During the vacuum vessel sector module assembly, the consortium continuously optimized construction processes, strengthened critical path management and implemented parallel construction — significantly improving the project efficiency and helping to accelerate the overall construction progress of ITER. These achievements have earned high recognition from the ITER Organization and international partners.