HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Reaches Major Milestone in ITER Nuclear Fusion Project

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced the completion of the final ITER vacuum vessel sector module assembly during a "KOREA-ITER Fusion Day" event held in Cadarache, France, on Wednesday, July 22, the company said. The event celebrated the integration of the sector manufactured by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries with thermal shields and superconducting magnets before its move to the Tokamak pit. Around 150 participants attended the ceremony, including representatives from South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, domestic companies, research institutes, and the ITER Organization. The gathering highlighted Korea's major procurement achievements and discussed strategies for international cooperation in nuclear fusion. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries manufactured four of the nine total vacuum vessel sectors for ITER, delivering all four by 2024 after securing an additional order for two sectors originally assigned to the European Union in 2016. Each sector measures 11.3 meters in height, 6.6 meters in width, and weighs approximately 400 tons, requiring high manufacturing precision to meet stringent nuclear safety standards. Won Kwang-shik, Senior Executive Vice President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, received a plaque of appreciation from ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi during the event. Won stated that the successful fabrication and installation represent a major milestone demonstrating the technological competitiveness of Korean industry and the results of international cooperation.