The TBM at the 330 MW Kishanganga project in India has successfully completed its large section of the project's headrace tunnel. Italian contractor Seli completed the 14.8 km-long shield-driven section of the 5.2 m-diameter headrace recently, using a 6.18 m-diameter double shield. Seli worked as TBM supplier and sub-contractor for the shield bore on behalf of the main contractor, Hindustan Construction Co (HCC). The Kishanganga project is in Jammu and Kashmir, and is being developed by NHPC. The geology along the headrace is granite, andesite and granite/granodiorite. The TBM was launched in early 2011. Seli's crew achieved good progress rates in a region that has proven difficult for TBMs, but their experience was vital in overcoming stretches of collapsing ground, blockage and jamming that required hand-mining used to free the machine.
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