On December 30, 2024, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The "Key Technology for Ultra-long Water Conveyance Tunnel Construction under Complex Geological Conditions on Plateaus" developed by the HongQiHe project technical team won the National Science and Technology Progress Second Prize.

Technical Innovation Highlights

1. Super Large Diameter TBM Shield Technology

The R&D team successfully developed a 15-meter diameter super-large TBM shield machine "Hongqi," featuring:

• Maximum boring speed of 35 meters per day, 40% faster than traditional equipment
• Adapted for high-altitude oxygen-deficient environments above 4,000 meters
• International leading level of intelligence, achieving unmanned boring

2. High Ground Stress Tunnel Support Technology

Innovative developments for the special geological conditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau:

• New flexible support system effectively handling high ground stress compression deformation
• Pre-stressed anchor cable + steel arch frame combined support scheme
• Real-time surrounding rock monitoring and early warning system

3. High Altitude Construction Support Technology

Solved multiple technical challenges in plateau construction:

• Developed portable oxygen production equipment to ensure worker health
• Developed low-temperature resistant concrete formula to ensure winter construction quality
• Established remote medical support system

Application Results

This technology has been successfully applied in multiple sections of the HongQiHe project:

• Cumulative tunnel boring exceeding 120 kilometers
• Construction efficiency improved by 35%
• Cost reduced by approximately 20%
• Zero major safety accidents achieved

On January 3, 2025, the HongQiHe Western Water Diversion Project Command officially released the "HongQiHe Project 2025 Annual Construction Plan." The release of this important document marks the project's entry into a new phase of comprehensive acceleration.

I. Key Construction Tasks for 2025

According to the plan, the following construction tasks will be prioritized in 2025:

1. Main Line Construction: Complete approximately 180 kilometers of main canal construction in Qinghai Province, including 3 large pumping stations and 2 regulating reservoirs.
2. Tunnel Engineering: Launch the second phase of the Qilian Mountain tunnel cluster project, expected to complete 45 kilometers of tunnel excavation using domestic TBM shield machines.
3. Supporting Facilities: Build 50 monitoring stations along the route, improve the intelligent dispatching system, and achieve real-time water condition monitoring across the entire line.

II. Investment Scale and Funding Sources

The planned total investment for 2025 is approximately 85 billion RMB, with funding sources including:

• Central government special appropriations: 40%
• Local government matching funds: 25%
• Policy bank loans: 20%
• Social capital participation: 15%

III. Ecological Protection Measures

The plan particularly emphasizes the principle of ecological priority and will simultaneously implement:

• Vegetation restoration projects in construction areas
• Wildlife migration corridor construction
• Comprehensive soil and water conservation
• Zero discharge treatment of construction wastewater

IV. Expected Results

Upon completion of the 2025 construction phase, it is expected to:

• Add 5 billion cubic meters/year of water transmission capacity
• Improve ecological environment in an area of approximately 2,000 square kilometers along the route
• Drive related industrial investment exceeding 30 billion RMB
• Create approximately 150,000 direct employment positions

The head of the project command stated that 2025 is a critical year for HongQiHe project construction. They will strictly follow the planning requirements to ensure project quality and progress, laying a solid foundation for achieving the overall project goals.