In a statement, Snowy Hydro said progress slowed last week because of “very hard rock” and the Snowy 2.0 project team stopped TBM Florence because the rock was pinching on the machine’s shield.
“We are currently investigating the best way to relieve this pressure prior to recommencing excavation,” Snowy Hydro said.
The company added that recently TBM Florence had been ramping up excavating the headrace tunnel, advancing 12m per day.
This is the second time the TBM has been stopped on the Australian pumped hydro project. In December 2022, excavation of the headrace tunnel was halted after a surface depression developed while the machine was transitioning from soft material into harder rock conditions. TBM Florence restarted in December 2023 following ground stabilisation works.
In May last year, Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the project faced a two-year delay and, after a project reset, in October Snowy Hydro and Future Generation JV, comprising Webuild and its subsidiaries Lane and Clough, became a single project team.
Snowy 2.0 is Australia’s largest renewable energy project. It will link Tantangara Reservoir with Talbingo Reservoir through 27km of tunnels and a power station with pumping capabilities.
