Chinese TBM a first in Africa 17 Jan 2019

Italian contractor Seli has chosen a 10.5m EPBM from CREG of China for the excavation work to extend the Algiers Metro line in Algeria from El Harrach Station to Houari Boumediene International Airport, including an underground section of 9.5km with nine stations and 10 ventilation shafts. The project was awarded in early 2018 to Italian Seli Overseas by Cosider Travaux Publics.

Factory acceptance ceremony

The TBM has now been delivered to the project site from the CREG workshop in Tianjin, and is the first to a construction project in Africa, and an important step in CREG’s international business strategy. At 91m long and weighing more than 1800 tonne, the TBM was designed and manufactured in just 9 months. With active articulation it is capable of negotiating a 180m curve radius as required by the project owner.

The supply contract represents a new addition to CREG’s joint efforts with European Contractors following previous successes in the Middle East where it supplied two 3.5m gripper TBMs for the Greater Beirut Water Supply Project subcontracted to C.M.C; two 11.05m TBMs to Dubai Deep Tunnel storm water system subcontracted to Porr-Six Construct JV; and one 4.4m EPBM for the Doha Musaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall tunnel project subcontracted to HBK-Porr JV.

Planned route for extension

“CREG was chosen to supply this TBM due to its excellent product quality and after-sales service in this field, and a rapidly increasing brand influence in overseas markets” said Dario Vizzino, Seli Overseas Project director at the factory acceptance test. “After testing this TBM in the past week we are happy that it meets our expectations and we feel excited.”

Following machine assembly in Algiers, excavation is due to start mid 2109. The extension line from El Harrach to the airport is scheduled to open to the public in 2021.

Present at the factory acceptance ceremony were Dario Vizzino, Project Director of Seli Overseas, Marco D'Ambrosio, Chief Engineer, Tender & Technical Department, Fabio Del Rossi PIC, Tender & Technical Department, Tan Shunhui, Chairman of CREG and representatives from Tianjin Municipal government.