First Chinese EPBM heads to Qatar 08 Nov 2018

CREG Zhengzhou is preparing to export its first 4.4m EPBM to Doha, Qatar for the Musaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall Tunnel Project.

The first CREG EPBM destined for Doha, Qatar

The EPBM will be the first CREG EPBM exported to Qatar. The tunnel it is assigned for is a 10km municipal rainwater collection and treatment project. The EPBM will encounter three stratigraphic formations, namely Rus formation, Midra shale, and Simsima limestone from bottom to top respectively. Due to its proximity to the shallow sea off the peninsula of Qatar, the water table ranges from -1m to about -14m at the receiving port.

The $251 million project is the second phase of the Mesaimeer Surface and Ground Water Drainage Tunnel Project, which is aimed at providing a sustainable solution for the discharge of surface and storm water in Doha. The project was awarded to the joint venture between Hamad Bin Khalid Contracting Company (HBK) and Porr Qatar Construction Company with Mott MacDonald supplying project management services. In addition to the TBM tunnel, the project also includes construction of a pumping station at the end of Mesaimeer Tunnel, 10 pumps and auxiliary facilities.

The factory acceptance of the CREG EPBM celebration

The project is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2021. When the project is completed, the country will be able to pump water from Mesaimeer Tunnel to the new outfall tunnel operating at a capacity of 19.7m3/s. It is in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.

At the acceptance ceremony, Pavel Zuzula, project director of the Musaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall Tunnel Project said: “We believe that CREG will deliver the best product for the best price and the added value to the project will get the best out of all the parties which were examined during the tender. And we strongly believe this will prove to be true in the next two years when we start tunnelling. As this is the first time to use CREG machine in Qatar, I really wish for every success. I really believe we are going to achieve a great performance with your machine and we are going to successfully break through earlier than we intend.”

As well as Zuzula, attending the event was Thorsten Haertel, executive board member of HBK-PORR joint venture, Abdulrahim Sheikh, general manager of AUCC joint venture, Rudolf Androvic, senior construction manager of joint venture, Gary Peach, project director of Mott MacDonald and Zhuo Puzhou, general manager of CREG as well as other CREG delegates. Zhang Zhiguo, deputy general manager of CREG, presided over the event.