China Expands Nuclear Fusion Push as Hefei BEST Facility Enters Assembly

China is accelerating construction of next-generation controlled nuclear fusion facilities, led by the Burning Experimental Spherical Tokamak (BEST) project in Hefei, Anhui province. Installation of the compact experimental device began in June 2026, targeting full host and peripheral assembly by 2027 and fusion power generation demonstrations around 2030. Alongside state-backed research infrastructure, domestic private capital is expanding rapidly, with fusion startups raising over 7 billion yuan in the first half of 2026 amid policy support for designated future industries.

The transition of the BEST facility into full-scale mechanical assembly marks a shift for China's controlled fusion program from laboratory research toward engineering feasibility and power generation trials. With top-level industrial planning prioritizing nuclear fusion and billions of yuan entering the supply chain, the sector is fostering an emerging industrial ecosystem spanning high-temperature superconductors, specialized materials, and precision equipment.

China has entered a critical construction phase for its next-generation controlled nuclear fusion infrastructure, according to domestic media reports. The Burning Experimental Spherical Tokamak (BEST) project, located in Hefei, Anhui province, commenced hardware installation in June 2026 and is currently progressing through comprehensive assembly. According to reports from CCTV Finance and Securities Times, engineers expect to complete the device's ring assembly by early 2027, aiming to finish installing the host machine and peripheral systems later that year. The experimental roadmap targets a fusion power output ranging between 20 megawatts and 200 megawatts, with a broader goal of demonstrating fusion electricity generation around 2030. The development of fusion energy in China is also expanding beyond traditional state-run research institutes. Commercial fusion enterprises have attracted substantial private and corporate investment. Market data reported by Securities Times indicates that during the first half of 2026, domestic fusion startups—including ENN Fusion, Zeta Fusion, and Energy Singularity—raised a combined total exceeding 7 billion yuan ($970 million), setting new funding records for the sector. Financial analysts anticipate substantial capital expenditure in the coming years. Securities Times cited a Huachuang Securities research report indicating that controlled nuclear fusion has been officially incorporated into top-level central planning for strategic future industries. The brokerage projects total investments in major domestic fusion projects could reach 148.2 billion yuan over the next three to five years, signaling an active bidding and procurement cycle for advanced industrial components. Guosen Securities similarly estimated that annual investments in fusion facilities could reach approximately 20 billion yuan during the 15th and 16th Five-Year Plan periods, potentially stimulating an upstream and downstream industrial market worth 50 billion yuan. Despite rising market enthusiasm and recent share price gains among listed nuclear equipment suppliers, industry participants emphasize that commercial realization will require sustained development. Executives from domestic manufacturers have noted in investor briefings that transitioning magnetic confinement fusion from experimental verification to economically viable commercial power generation remains a prolonged and technically complex undertaking.