On January 5, the "Jianghan Ping'an" (Jianghan Peace), the first dual-shield hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Yangtze River-to-Han River Water Diversion Project, jointly developed by Jianghan Water Network Construction and Development Co., Ltd. of China South-to-North Water Diversion Group, China Railway Engineering Equipment Group (CREG), and China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group, was successfully launched in Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province. Hu Jianhua, Chief Accountant, Chief Legal Counsel, and Board Secretary of the Group, attended the launch ceremony.

The "Jianghan Ping'an" TBM is currently the dual-shield hard rock TBM with the largest diameter and the most complete functions among domestic water diversion tunnel projects. The machine has an excavation diameter of 11.93 meters, a total length of about 180 meters, and a total weight of about 3,550 tons, and its tunneling task covers a total length of about 16.6 kilometers.

The "Jianghan Ping'an" TBM launched this time is equipped with induced polarization advanced geological detection, jamming warning, cutter condition detection systems, and the pioneering conventional advanced drilling rig system, enabling it to cope with complex geological conditions such as high stress in deep-buried surrounding rock, ultra-hard rock, rockbursts, and high external water pressure. Meanwhile, the "TBM-SMART" intelligent tunneling system independently developed by the design team can automatically assess the geological conditions of the surrounding rock and precisely optimize the tunneling parameters, ensuring safe and efficient tunneling and providing important technical support for project construction.

To seize the TBM assembly and launch milestones, since entering the site on November 1, 2024, the on-site service team of CREG and the owner, China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group, have collaborated and cooperated closely to ensure smooth linkage of all stages. Through the joint efforts of all parties, the "Jianghan Ping'an" TBM achieved tunneling launch one month ahead of schedule. As of now, of the 6 TBMs provided by CREG for the Yangtze River-to-Han River Water Diversion Project, 4 have been completed and rolled off the production line, of which 3 have been successfully launched, laying a solid foundation for the high-quality construction of the project.