Recently, the "Jishi" TBM, the first TBM used in a domestic underground iron mine, surpassed the 1,000-meter mark in tunneling.

The belt inclined shaft and auxiliary ramp system excavation and lining project of the Xi'anshan mining and processing integrated project is located in Anshan City, Liaoning Province. The construction tasks are divided into the belt inclined shaft, auxiliary ramp, and tunnel chamber construction, with a total length of 15.3 km. It serves as a permanent mining and equipment maintenance passage. Among them, the belt inclined shaft (total length 4.2 km) and the auxiliary ramp (total length 6.3 km) are constructed using a new open-type TBM with a diameter of 7.03 meters. The elevation difference is 745 meters, and the maximum gradient is 15%–22%. It is necessary to overcome difficulties such as long-distance steep downhill tunneling, long-distance construction ventilation organization, construction through soft rock fracture zones, and long-distance steep uphill tunneling.

Since the launch of the "Jishi" TBM, the project department has adopted multiple measures and created and invented a number of construction methods to overcome difficulties such as reverse-slope drainage during long-distance steep downhill tunneling, debris accumulation on the shield cutterhead, and steep-gradient, long-distance transportation. It has advanced the TBM tunneling safely and efficiently, setting a record of 14.03 meters of tunneling in a single shift and 24.03 meters in a single day for steep-gradient reverse-slope tunneling, and summarizing valuable experience for subsequent safe construction.

Next, the project department will be guided by the Jundushan spirit, strengthen safety and quality control, optimize various construction processes, persistently advance construction production, and ensure the smooth completion of the Xi'anshan project through practical actions.