CCCC Tianhe TBM Assembled for Belt and Road Water Project

On October 3, CCCC Tianhe’s self-developed “Dayu Xuedun” TBM completed cutterhead assembly for the Polihali Water Transfer Tunnel Project in Lesotho — a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative — marking another major step toward full TBM excavation.

As one of the most challenging water projects in Southern Africa, the Polihali Tunnel faces extreme geological conditions, including long single-drive tunneling, deep-buried ultra-hard rock, and multiple water-rich fault zones. To tackle these difficulties, CCCC Tianhe’s R&D team implemented several technological innovations.

The project adopts two TBMs — “Dayu Changfeng” and “Dayu Xuedun” — for dual-shield hard rock excavation. Each machine measures 425 meters in length, weighs 1,500 tons, and has a 5.38-meter diameter for excavation. The heavy-duty cutterhead system, made of special alloy materials, can withstand rock strength up to 250 MPa. Dual advanced drilling rigs enable 360° geological exploration, while intelligent anti-torque systems and reverse-slope drainage devices ensure construction safety in complex formations. These innovations elevate the equipment’s tunneling efficiency and safety performance to an international leading level.

The successful development of the “Dayu” series TBMs showcases China’s advanced manufacturing and independent innovation capabilities. This project contributes Chinese expertise and solutions to African infrastructure while deepening China–Africa cooperation.

In recent years, CCCC Tianhe has strengthened its focus on technological innovation, holding over 600 patents and awards. While solidifying its domestic foundation, the company is also expanding overseas — with TBMs now operating in Belt and Road countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Russia — providing strong technical support for China’s global infrastructure development.