Full Connection of Transportation Tunnel for Shizhuyuan's 10,000 mt Technological Transformation Project

At 9:08 a.m. on June 16th, with the final blasting roar at the excavation face, the transportation tunnel of the 10,000 mt technological transformation project of Hunan Shizhuyuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Shizhuyuan Company") achieved dual-line breakthrough amid enthusiastic cheers. This marked another significant milestone following the breakthrough of the Shizhuyuan flood discharge tunnel, indicating a crucial step forward towards accelerating the project and achieving its overall completion. The two transportation channels, with a total length of 3 kilometers and a vertical elevation difference of 119 meters, were completed ahead of schedule. The Shizhuyuan project team demonstrated the spirit of "daring to tackle tough challenges and excelling in critical battles" with a speed exceeding expectations and high-quality results.

Overcoming Difficulties in 7 Months

Hard Work Paved the Way

The transportation tunnel serves as the "logistics lifeline" of the 10,000 mt technological transformation project at Shizhuyuan, undertaking the core function of transporting waste rock stripped from open-pit mining sites to the tailings pond, which will later serve as the primary material for dam construction. The main part of the project's transportation tunnel consists of two parallel three-centered arch tunnels, meeting the demand for bidirectional circular transportation of heavy trucks. Since the project's inception, the project team has overcome challenges such as poor stability of the fractured zone rock strata and complex geological conditions; the long single-tunnel excavation of 1,483 meters and a total bidirectional tunneling footage of over 3,100 meters, posing significant difficulties in ventilation, drainage, and mucking; achieving precise alignment within a mountain with a vertical elevation difference of 119 meters and over 8 kilometers of mountain roads at both ends of the tunnel, requiring high precision in construction and surveying techniques; and tight schedules and heavy tasks for the rectification project under the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection. The team innovatively adopted the strategy of "excavation from both ends, infrared orientation, bidirectional mutual verification, and regular resurveying" to ensure construction quality and progress. Through measures such as dynamically optimizing blasting parameters and strengthening support techniques, after seven consecutive months of arduous efforts, the No. 1 transportation tunnel was completed 4 days ahead of schedule, and the No. 2 transportation tunnel was completed 34 days ahead of schedule, setting a new efficiency record for similar projects.

Technological Innovation Empowering Progress

Breaking Through Construction Barriers

The Shizhuyuan project team fully leveraged the role of innovation-driven development, overcoming construction challenges through three major innovations, providing strong technical support for the efficient, safe, and precise breakthrough of the tunnel. In terms of precise measurement and dynamic correction, advanced equipment such as total stations and laser pointing instruments were employed to monitor the tunnel's direction in real-time. By establishing a through-wire network for error prediction and adjustment, precise alignment of the dual lines was ensured, with errors significantly lower than regulatory requirements. In terms of process innovation, considering the varying stability of surrounding rock, techniques such as "smooth blasting" and "pre-splitting blasting" were adopted segmentally to reduce over-excavation and under-excavation. In fractured zone areas, the "short excavation, short support" process was implemented, with denser anchor bolts and cables, increased steel arch frame density, and standardized construction to effectively control surrounding rock deformation. In terms of strengthening ventilation and dust control, and implementing green construction, large-diameter air ducts and high-power, high-efficiency ventilators were selected to enhance ventilation management, effectively addressing ventilation challenges in long-distance single-heading tunnel excavation. Meanwhile, comprehensive dust control measures such as wet drilling, post-blasting spraying and watering, and rock loading watering were implemented to improve the working environment. Safety Foundation and Three-Dimensional Supervision Ensure "Zero Accidents" Safety is the lifeline of project construction. The project team regards "zero accidents and zero injuries" as the bottom line and has established a "trinity" safety management and control system. The team strictly implements the safety production responsibility system, adopts grid-based management, and clarifies the "three-level responsibilities" of project leaders, team leaders, and frontline workers, ensuring that safety responsibilities are assigned to every construction worker, every work area, and every work procedure. The team comprehensively implements a dual prevention mechanism for safety risk classification management and control and hidden danger investigation and treatment. Before construction, risk identification and assessment are conducted, and management and control measures are formulated for hidden dangers. During construction, the team strictly implements the "three inspections per shift" system, which includes pre-shift inspections, in-shift inspections, and post-shift inspections, to achieve "closed-loop management" of hidden dangers. The team strengthens emergency drills and safety training, formulates comprehensive emergency plans, conducts special emergency drills for water inrush, geological disasters, etc., and enhances targeted safety education and training to improve the safety awareness and skills of construction workers.

Party Building Guidance

Constructing a "Red Fortress" for Project Assault

The joint party branch of the project fully plays its role as a combat fortress. Taking the deep integration of "Party building + engineering" as a starting point, it has established a "Roadway Engineering Party Member Commando Team," injecting the pioneering strength of party members into the frontline of construction. Party branch committee members and party member cadres insist on "entering and exiting together" with frontline workers to promptly address emergencies at the construction site. Commando team party members take the initiative to undertake key tasks such as construction in high-risk sections and handling complex geological conditions, leading team members to overcome difficulties. The party branch actively carries out learning and education activities to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Central Party Committee's Eight-Point Regulation, and organizes safety knowledge competitions, technical competitions, and other activities to build a united force for tackling challenges. Since the establishment of the "Roadway Engineering Party Member Commando Team" by the joint party branch of the project, the average daily tunneling workload has increased by 1.5 meters, and tunneling efficiency has improved by 20%, fully demonstrating the leading and driving role of "Party building +" in project construction and "urgent, difficult, dangerous, and heavy" tasks.