HD Hyundai Hits Fusion Milestone with ITER Vacuum Vessel Completion

The 'KOREA-ITER Fusion Day' celebration on July 22 highlighted the assembly of the final sector module, a feat that brings the donut-shaped Tokamak closer to reality. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries played a central role, delivering four of the nine massive vacuum vessel sectors required for the reactor. These components, each standing 11.3 meters tall and weighing 400 tons, must maintain a ultra-high vacuum while containing plasma heated to temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius.

Securing the contract in 2010 and expanding their footprint in 2016, the Korean firm leveraged techniques honed in shipbuilding to meet the project's rigorous nuclear engineering standards. The completed vessel, which will eventually weigh approximately 5,000 tons once all sectors are integrated, is the heart of the ITER facility. Won Kwang-shik, Senior Executive Vice President of the company, noted that the successful fabrication underscores the strength of international cooperation in pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy. Beyond the French site, the company remains a pillar of South Korea’s domestic fusion infrastructure, having previously provided core components for the KSTAR research project.