Europe Delivers Final ITER Vacuum Vessel Sector

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project has received Europe's fifth and final vacuum vessel sector. This delivery concludes Europe's manufacturing contribution to the ITER vacuum vessel, a critical component designed to house fusion reactions and serve as the primary safety containment barrier.

The vacuum vessel, once assembled, will have an outer diameter of 19.4 meters, a height of 11.4 meters, and an approximate weight of 5,200 tonnes. With the subsequent installation of in-vessel components, its weight will increase to 8,500 tonnes. Each of the nine wedge-shaped steel sectors measures over 14 meters in height and weighs 440 tonnes. The fabrication of these sectors requires precise tolerances of less than a few millimeters to ensure the seamless integration of internal components, necessitating advanced forming and welding technologies.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain

The fabrication of the vacuum vessel sectors was divided between Europe, which produced five sectors, and South Korea, which produced four. South Korea completed its commitment by delivering its four sectors between 2020 and November 2024. Europe's final sector was manufactured by a consortium comprising Ansaldo Nucleare, Westinghouse, and Walter Tosto.

The production of the four segments that form each sector was carried out at Westinghouse in Monfalcone, Italy, and Walter Tosto in Chieti. Each sector involved over 1.6 kilometers of welding for assembly. The recently delivered European sector left Westinghouse's factory in Monfalcone and was transported by DAHER to the ITER site in Cadarache. The entire manufacturing process for Europe's five sectors spanned 16 years and accumulated over 2 million hours of work, including 750 kilometers of welding beads.

ITER Project Overview

ITER is an international collaboration involving 35 nations, with the European Union contributing nearly half of the construction costs. The project aims to build a tokamak fusion device to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source. The goal is to operate at 500 MW with 50 MW of plasma heating power input. While no electricity will be generated at ITER, the project is targeting deuterium-deuterium fusion operation in 2035, followed by full magnetic energy and plasma current operation.

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L&T Valves

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L&T Valves is now available on NucFinder as a validated supplier.

L&T Valves Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) conglomerate. Renowned globally for design innovation, manufacturing precision, and high-reliability flow-control solutions, L&T Valves manufactures industrial valves for critical-service applications across energy, defence, and process industries.

Leveraging the broader L&T group’s heritage of supplying equipment to nuclear reactors, L&T Valves provides specialised, safety-critical valves designed for both the Primary Circuit (Nuclear Island) and Secondary Circuit (Balance of Plant).

Key Capabilities & Engineering Excellence

Severe-Service & High-Pressure Design: Engineered to meet extreme operating parameters (including ASME pressure classes up to Class 4500) with zero-leakage packing, radiation-resistant materials, and hardfaced seating surfaces (such as Stellite) to resist erosion and corrosion.
Seismic & Dynamic Qualification: Valve assemblies, actuators, and positioners are dynamically qualified to maintain operational integrity during and after Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE) events.
Active Valve & Safety Functionality: Design and testing are engineered to ensure high-reliability shutoff and throttling during normal operations as well as emergency cooling or containment isolation scenarios.

Product Portfolio for Nuclear Applications

Pressure-Seal & Bolted-Bonnet Gate, Globe, and Check Valves: High-pressure valves used in main steam lines, feedwater systems, primary coolant loops, and emergency core cooling systems (ECCS).
Triple-Offset Butterfly Valves: Employed in heavy-duty seawater intake, cooling water circuits, and ventilation/containment isolation systems requiring tight bi-directional shutoff.
Trunnion-Mounted & Floating Ball Valves: Utilised in auxiliary nuclear fluid processing, gas monitoring, and emergency shutdown networks.
Automated & Emergency Systems: Integrated valve automation (pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric) engineered to Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3) standards for high-speed isolation and safety-instrumented functions.

Nuclear Quality Assurance & Compliance

Aligning with strict nuclear standards, including ASME Section III (Nuclear Facility Components) frameworks, ASME B16.34, and regulatory requirements aligned with international safety guidelines (such as IAEA and US NRC norms).
Testing & Inspection: In-house Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), mass spectrometry helium leak testing, hydrostatic and pneumatic shell testing, and 100% product inspection before deployment.

Broader Industry Footprint

In addition to nuclear power generation, L&T Valves serves a diverse array of global industries:

Oil & Gas (Upstream, Midstream & Downstream): Pipeline valves, High-Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS), and refining/petrochemical flow systems.
Thermal & Renewable Power: Supercritical and ultra-supercritical steam isolation and control valves.
Defense & Aerospace: Custom titanium and exotic-alloy valves for strategic naval, defense, and aerospace projects.
Chemicals, Water & Infrastructure: Corrosion-resistant and severe-service valves for industrial water treatment, desalination, and chemical processing.

Explore the company profile, capabilities, and catalog coverage on NucFinder.

Poland Updates Nuclear Power Program Timeline and Priorities

Revised Timeline for First Nuclear Plant

Poland's updated nuclear power program now projects the first unit of its initial nuclear power plant to begin commercial operation in 2036, with the plant reaching full capacity by 2038. This represents a three-year delay from the previously planned schedule. Preparatory work and infrastructure development are currently underway at the preferred site in Pomerania, where Westinghouse's AP1000 technology will be utilized. The project has allocated PLN60.2 billion (USD15.4 billion) for recapitalization between 2025 and 2030, with financing expected to combine equity and debt from domestic and international institutions.

Plans for a Second Nuclear Power Plant

Work is also progressing on a second nuclear power plant, with Bełchatów and Konin identified as preferred locations. A competitive dialogue is ongoing to select a technology supplier and project contractor, involving the USA, France, and Canada. The goal is to secure a comprehensive offer that includes both technology and financing. Key milestones for the second plant include selecting a strategic partner and technology in 2027, commencing construction around 2032, and starting up the first unit around 2040, which is one year later than initially scheduled.

Program Priorities and Domestic Industry

The updated program emphasizes several key areas to ensure effective implementation. A primary focus is the development of a strong domestic supply chain to enable Polish companies to participate in both domestic and international nuclear projects. It is estimated that Polish companies could contribute approximately 40% of the first reactor's value, with potential to increase to 70% for subsequent units as expertise and certified companies grow. The program also prioritizes staff and competence development for the nuclear sector, strengthening the nuclear and technical supervision system, and managing radioactive waste.

Additional Nuclear Initiatives

Beyond the government's primary program, other nuclear initiatives are underway in Poland. PGE PAK Energia Jądrowa, a joint venture between ZE PAK and PGE, is developing plans for a nuclear power plant in Pątnów using APR1400 technology. A decision-in-principle for this plant was issued in November 2023. Additionally, SGE is leading plans for a fleet of up to 26 BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Poland.