"Artificial Sun" project developed by the CNNC Photo: Zhang Haichao/GT

The "artificial sun" project has made significant strides as the first batch of its safety components have been successfully delivered by China and is now on its way to France, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.

According to the notice, the delivered components were pipelines for the gas injection system. The component plays an important role in the ignition, maintenance and control of the plasma, and can also play a part in the cleaning of the vacuum vessel wall. The construction of the pipeline requires extremely high manufacturing standards.

The pipelines are expected to arrive in France in mid-May despite the coronavirus, Zhang Kai, chairman of the China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co, a subsidiary of CNNC, said in a report by China Radio International.

Apart from the safety components, progress has also been made on the construction of the Tokamak Assembly, which is a core part of the project. CNNC signed the Tokamak Assembly Contract 1 (TAC1) in 2019, and it was the biggest nuclear energy project contract bid by a Chinese company in the European market, according to a statement by CNNC.

The artificial sun project, formally known as the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) project, is the development of a nuclear fusion reactor that is expected to generate clean energy through fusion technology. The reactor is located in Provence, southern France.

An experimental reactor is expected to open in 2021, and large scale commercial use will commence around 2050, according to the schedule.