But despite the apparent progress, the megaproject has also been hit by yet more delays and surging costs.
The magnets will form a cage around a donut-shaped chamber called a tokamak.
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Whats more, the price tag, already estimated at 20bn, will rise by 5bn.
Barabaschi has largely blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for the most recent delay.
However, the reality is that harnessing fusion energy is, simply put, really bloody difficult.
Even harder perhaps than scientists first predicted.
Back then, it had a budget of 5bn, with the EU providing the bulk of the funding.
The reactor was designed to be an experiment, not a commercially viable reactor.
Thats something that has never been done before.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
