Contract worth more than €15 million
A metal construction company based in Porto de Mós, in the district of Leiria, is involved in the construction in southern France of the world’s largest nuclear fusion energy project.
Blocotelha is “one of the Portuguese companies subcontracted to be part of the construction of ITER (international thermonuclear experimental reactor),” the company has announced.
According to the press release, the project, which has been under discussion since 2020, “was awarded for a value of more than €15 million and foresees the supply and assembly of more than 2,000 tonnes of metal structures, 11,000 square metres (m2) of roofing and 17,000 m2 of cladding”.
Blocotelha is entering “what will be the last phase of its participation in the ITER construction project, which consists of finalising buildings for which the company is responsible (B71, B75, B34 and B37) and the Cryoline, Busbar M1 and Busbar M2 bridges, which are expected to be completed before the end of the year”.
The international fusion experimental reactor (ITER) is being built in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in the south of France with the collaboration of 35 countries.
“The project aims to build the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device, created to prove the viability of fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source, based on the same principle that powers stars and the sun,” Bloctelha’s press release adds.
The company, as a partner of the European consortium, has 20 professionals allocated to the project with the responsibility of supplying and assembling metal structures, cladding and roofs for four buildings and three bridges.
“The ITER project is a great challenge. But at the same time, it is very rewarding to be able to contribute and collaborate with experts from all over the world, in a project with such a significant impact on the future of energy and the world“, says commercial director Erico Ferraria.
According to the statement, ITER “will be the largest tokamak in the world, twice the size of the largest machine currently in operation, with a plasma chamber volume ten times larger”.
Source: LUSA
