SANTO DOMINGO.- The Brazilian construction company Norberto Odebrecht said a modern tunneling machine will arrive next weed, to be use to build the Palomino hydroelectric project, located in Bohechío, San Juan province (southwest).
The company said it will receive from Germany the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at Haina port, and will immediately start working in the construction of the 13.5 kilometer-long tunnel.
Odebrecht said the machine is 252 meters long, weighs 1,300 tons, has a 1.4 meter double boring stroke; a variable 0 to 11 rpm speed; 2,250 KW of power; 12,000 (24,000) kN of penetrative power, and 2,350 kN of maximum torque.
It also said the Palomino project advances at a normal rate, with the construction program the State-owned power company Egehid established from the work’s onset.
It said the work is of the highest priority for the country, with 80 megawatts of power installed, which will increase in the country’s current hydroelectric potential by 15%, reducing the dependency on imported fuel to generate energy.
It said the project will create 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, with 1,200 workers on site now, a figure it said will increase with the TBM’s arrival.
From: United States, Richmond, Texas
Those TBM's are awesome machines. I had a chance to see them in action some years back, very impressive Odebrecht is a first class outfit both in constrution and engineering, lets hope that they are allowed to work as they had planned with little interference from outside sources (government) and they will knock his work out in a no time.
From: United States, Richmond, Texas
G,
Don't I know it. Not so different than a lot of LA countries with mandated benefits and the like. Very different in a lot of other respects
From: United States
Oh hell yea. Costa Rica's electricity is 80% hydro.
go for it guys.
Written by: xwill7, 14 Apr 2009 10:43 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Hopefully this will help the rolling blackouts
Written by: lovingit, 14 Apr 2009 11:31 AM
From: United States, Delaware
I saw one of these in action in a show called Modern Wonders, in one of those Discovery Channel affeliates... they were digging some tunnel in Madrid.. that thing was awesome.
From: Dominican Republic, Cabarete
This will not alleviate the blackouts as mostly they are a result of no payments to the providers as the government steals the money before it can be paid to the utility companies. Or scheduled (Unscheduled) maintenance to the plants which is never done correctly as the workers do not know what to do nor do they have the needed parts. This particular project is not near the major population zones and therefore will not bring relief to most of the people in the Country. More so of a concern is whether there will even be electricity to power the machine so it can do its work. What a Country.
Written by: xwill7, 14 Apr 2009 12:04 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
They will make sure to have enough electricity for this machine. I am sure that the DR does not want to pay for any extra penalties to the contractor due to electricity delays.
From: Dominican Republic, Cabarete
In a normal world that is the correct answer. But this is the DR and normality is not in evidence. But let us hope and maybe it will spill over to the rest of the Country.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
I am going to look at the positive aspects of this project and all of the jobs it will create in a region where they are badly needed. I further would think that the availability of electricity in the southwest region will spur much needed development, including businesses beyond tourism.
DR should ensure that it does not become a "one industry" country, so that it would be less affected by wide swings of external economies. We need to avoid the example of Elkhart, Indiana, here in the USA, where the entire town became a one-industry region, manufacturing recreational vehicles, and now enjoys >20% unemployment.
Anyway, we are typically quick to criticize our govt, and most times it is justified. However, in this specific case, I believe this is a worthwhile cause that will benefit Dominicans and promote business and employment. Perhaps we should applaud the govt this time.
From: United States, Orange County, California
Do we still have rivers in the DR?
Written by: xwill7, 14 Apr 2009 2:21 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
They are trying to start a dam near San Jose de las Matas that will ruin one of the most beautiful, cleanest, and powerfull rivers in Dominicana. They have to look at other options as well. Dams will not fix the problem.
Written by: xwill7, 14 Apr 2009 2:30 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Windpower is great, there are also some generators that work with the ocean waves.
Written by: Sajomero, 14 Apr 2009 4:32 PM
From: United States, Del primer Santiago de America....y el mejor!!!
We should follow Costa Rica on many things like education, environment, eco-tourism and hydroelectricity as well. As far as the new dam in Las Matas region, those rivers could be power houses if it wasn't for the severe deforestation thats been taking place there since the 40's. This area is full of absentee landowners that do nothing positive for the environment or the economy, but they don't allow one single tree to mature. I've seen this disgusting attitude towards nature and it makes me sick. Why not let the forest regenerate or integrate more trees into their properties?? If managed properly these mountain terrains could produce a lot more with trees than with skinny, degraded cattle or crops. If these areas get more forest coverage, we could really bump up the hydroelectric potential.
Written by: xwill7, 14 Apr 2009 4:51 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Sajomero,
San Jose is an area that brings in a ton of USD due to all of the Dominicans that travel back. For alot of people the rivers are the main point to travel to SAJOMA. If the rivers are gone then the economy in that area will suffer. But I agree some people should plant more trees in that area.
Written by: Trujillo, 14 Apr 2009 5:20 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I heard that 2 machines similar to this one will be used for the Metro's second line.
Written by: xwill7, 14 Apr 2009 5:24 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I hope that they connect Santiago to Santo Domingo soon
From: Dominican Republic, Cabarete
First they need to connect Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo. Have you ever tried to get from any point to any point in that city? Too bad as it has much potential but it is a totally incompetent mess of traffic, of all kinds.
Written by: Trujillo, 14 Apr 2009 5:37 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Me too, can't wait to see work start on that train and the second line. Also, we could use the ocean not just to generate energy, but for drinking water too.
From: Dominican Republic
What are they going to do with the dug up soil + water slurry generated?
Have they purchased the replacement discs for the wore ones in the TBM?
I do like the alternative energy work on wind, ocean (wave, tidal, blow pipe, turbulence, etc.), thermal, solar, magnetohydrodynamics, hydrothermal, solar-semiconductor, etc. that DR is either pursuing or planning to pursue.
The hydraulic-gravity dam relies on rain and the current predictions from the global warming foes is that droughts will predominate over the Caribbean. So we must conserve and possibly recycle the water. Therefore, I am hoping that along with the plain dam there are conservation and recycle technology installed. Otherwise, all these digging may just be in vane.
I agree with Trujillo that we must think of processing sea water to potable water but not yet until we find a way of getting rid off tritium and deuterium.
Written by: xwill7, 15 Apr 2009 10:17 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I think that if people fix their faucets and stop the water waste, we will not need to drink sea water. I have been to places in DR where the bathroom sink was running and could not be closed unless you closed the main valve. If they would treat the sea water so it would not rust vehicles then they should use it around the many car washes in DR to save the fresh water.
From: United States, NJ
The writer of this article is not that technical or observer. There is not a TBM 2 5 2 meters long . The most is 25 meters long or does he realizes that 252 is a fourth of a KM. He probably meant 252 ft in which case i believe. Another factor left behind in order for them to be transported has to be rail since the weight is so much it will sink . I know i saw the TBM in action on the 60th st tunnel in the 80s,and forget not, NYC is all rocks and can hold the mass.Nevertheless heavy gage rails were placed .Also the diameter of the (Diamond cutters) is 12 + ft or 4 neters and $$$$
Aside of that i do agree on all coments given so far in respect to the trees planting and i see the viewers are staying in focus with what the subject matter is about. That is very important i congratulate you all.
Thelmo Almeyda Rancier
ex NYCTA / MTA worker
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Don't I know it. Not so different than a lot of LA countries with mandated benefits and the like. Very different in a lot of other respects
Oh hell yea. Costa Rica's electricity is 80% hydro.
go for it guys.
DR should ensure that it does not become a "one industry" country, so that it would be less affected by wide swings of external economies. We need to avoid the example of Elkhart, Indiana, here in the USA, where the entire town became a one-industry region, manufacturing recreational vehicles, and now enjoys >20% unemployment.
Anyway, we are typically quick to criticize our govt, and most times it is justified. However, in this specific case, I believe this is a worthwhile cause that will benefit Dominicans and promote business and employment. Perhaps we should applaud the govt this time.
San Jose is an area that brings in a ton of USD due to all of the Dominicans that travel back. For alot of people the rivers are the main point to travel to SAJOMA. If the rivers are gone then the economy in that area will suffer. But I agree some people should plant more trees in that area.
Have they purchased the replacement discs for the wore ones in the TBM?
I do like the alternative energy work on wind, ocean (wave, tidal, blow pipe, turbulence, etc.), thermal, solar, magnetohydrodynamics, hydrothermal, solar-semiconductor, etc. that DR is either pursuing or planning to pursue.
The hydraulic-gravity dam relies on rain and the current predictions from the global warming foes is that droughts will predominate over the Caribbean. So we must conserve and possibly recycle the water. Therefore, I am hoping that along with the plain dam there are conservation and recycle technology installed. Otherwise, all these digging may just be in vane.
I agree with Trujillo that we must think of processing sea water to potable water but not yet until we find a way of getting rid off tritium and deuterium.
Aside of that i do agree on all coments given so far in respect to the trees planting and i see the viewers are staying in focus with what the subject matter is about. That is very important i congratulate you all.
Thelmo Almeyda Rancier
ex NYCTA / MTA worker