The 4.48-meter-diameter shield tunneling machine, "Shuangjing No. 1"rolled off the production line in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province on Monday.

It will be used for the construction of the Tina Hydropower Station in the Solomon Islands, making the first export of a Chinese shield tunneling machine to the Solomon Islands.

Jointly developed by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co Ltd and China Hydro Electric Engineering Group Corporation, the machine’s exterior incorporates design elements inspired by the national flag of the Solomon Islands and a leaping whale.

The section of the Tina Hydropower Station spans approximately 3.2 kilometers, primarily passing through gravel and sandstone layers. The project faces multiple engineering challenges, including long-distance tunneling, traversing fractured zones, and high-water pressure excavation.

Li Pei, from CRCC Heavy Industry, explained that to address the engineering challenges, the research and development team implemented a series of targeted design solutions to ensure the shield machine's strong adaptability to complex geological conditions.

The Tina Hydropower Station is the largest hydropower project currently under construction in the Solomon Islands. Upon completion, it will meet 68 percent of the electricity demand for Honiara, capital of the country, benefiting more than 100,000 residents.

Source: Ecns