Upon completion, the Marica surge shaft at the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme will rank among the largest diameter operational shafts worldwide. The team recently reached a significant milestone, excavating 100 of the planned 250 metres of the shaft.
 
The shaft, which is 28-metres wide, will connect to the scheme’s headrace tunnel, bringing water from the upper Tantangara Reservoir to the 2,200-megawatt power station 800 metres underground.
 
The surge shaft will serve multiple purposes; it will store water and provide vacuum relief when the power station starts up, and it will absorb the momentum of the water when the station shuts down.

To support the shaft walls during excavation, rock bolts, mesh, and shotcrete are being used. Once the team reaches the full depth of 250 metres, a permanent concrete lining up to 1.5 metres thick will be applied.

Clough and its parent company, Webuild, are part of Future Generation Joint Venture - FGJV, the principal contractor for project owner Snowy Hydro Limited, delivering the iconic Snowy 2.0, a major Snowy Scheme expansion underpinning Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future.

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