EPBM breaks through on Macau pipeline

8 March 2023


Breakthrough has been achieved on the Macau New Port Area sewage interception pipeline project.

The small diameter EPBM, CREC 1076, supplied by the China Railway Engineering Equipment Group (CREG), has bored 2.3km of the 2.5km pipeline.

CREG says the tunnel alignment presented several challenges, including S-shaped curves with a minimum curve radius of 50m and multiple riprap areas.

CREG’s bespoke EPBM, which was launched in March last year, has a 3.38m diameter and is 186m long. It features spherical articulation and muck pumping through sealed pipelines to improve construction efficiency and prevent environmental problems.

Once completed, the project will increase the capacity of the sewage discharge system in Macau’s new port area, and will reduce sea pollution from sewage overflows.