17 March 2021 Share The first project of the Chinese Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket System (HCCB TBS) for the Iter fusion reactor project was launched on 15 March at China National Nuclear Corporation's (CNNC's) Southwestern Institute of Physics in Chengdu, Sichuan province. It marks the start of China's implementation phase of tritium breeding technology in Iter. (Image: CNNC) A tritium breeding blanket is a core component for future fusion reactors to realise tritium breeding self-sufficiency and electricity generation, CNNC said. The Iter Test Blanket Modules (TBMs) programme aims to carry out tritium breeding blanket technology verification in the real fusion reactor environment provided by ITER. The HCCB TBS system is a vital part of China's participation in the ITER programme.