Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Malaysia

Pahang Selangor Water Transfer

Nearby my house there are controversial project Pahang Selangor Raw Water transfer project that just recently been revamp back. I remember is when the project first started, they were lot of Bangladeshi & Indonesian  worker  around my house. Everyday I can hear bombing activities at the site. I guess it is for the tunnelling project.  The project is actually almost complete, but due to political issues, the project have been put to stop for while.

Pahang Selangor Raw Water transfer used three TBMs for this project that the project break into 3 sections excavating below Titiwangsa mountain.

SMART Tunnels

The dual function tunnel Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) have experience using TBMs to excavate limestone in Klang Valley area. The project experience lot of problem facing quite a challenge especially for karst formation that is half of the tunnel.

MRT Project
In 2011 Prime Minister Malaysia Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched country biggest public transportation project named MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) managed by MRT Corp. This project will link construction of a rail-based public transport network to be together integrated with the existing light rail transit (LRT), monorail, KTM Komuter, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit systems, form the backbone of the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley region. Project delivery have been commission to MMC Gamuda. The proposed line was from Sungai Buloh till Kajang at length of 51km. Out of this 9.5km will be underground tunnel.





To excavate tunnel for 9.5km length with a difference density,it is actually quite a challenge. Thus a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is needed for this project.  This project actually acquired to have 2 types of TBM which is Earth Pressure Balance TBM and Variable Density TBM. Both cater different functions of needs.  Actually Malaysia is the first in the world using Variable Density TBM made specifically to works with our soil condition. Currently the tunnelling work is been commission to MMC Gamuda together with MRT Corp. There will be 10 TBMs will be fully operated to deliver this project.



Experience with past SMART tunnel projects, Pahang Selangor Raw Water tunnel contractors now are more experience with soil condition in Klang Valley. Its crucial to have specialize TBMs like this as it drives the works to be faster and contractors able to meet deadlines allocated.

We cant deny that TBMs have plays important role in tunnelling project in Malaysia.