On October 14th, a significant achievement was made in the Snowy 2.0 project with the breakthrough of the 216-meter tunnel connecting the water intake at the upper Tantangara reservoir to the gate shaft. You can watch the moment in this video click here.

The tunnel was excavated using the traditional drill-and-blast technique. After meticulous preparation, the final blast successfully cleared the remaining 3.1 meters. Throughout the entire length of the tunnel, the rock conditions remained consistent. This tunnel will channel water from the gate shaft to the headrace tunnel, ultimately reaching the power station at Jobs Hole.

The 62-meter-deep Tantangara gate shaft plays a crucial role in the system, offering both maintenance access and flood protection for the power station. It functions as a valve, capable of shutting off water from the Tantangara reservoir if necessary. During the excavation of the connection tunnel, 14,700 cubic meters of material were removed, 1,300 cubic meters of shotcrete were applied, and 3,200 rock bolts were installed to reinforce the rock face. 

Click here and au/38 for further information in the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/.  42/24.