The director of the JKP "Belgrade Metro and Train" Belgrade, Andreja Mladenović, said today that the TBM machines, or "mole machines", which will be delivered to Serbia in the second half of 2026, were specially made for the soil conditions in Belgrade and added that the work on the subway will be at the highest possible level.
The company's delegation visited the production facilities of the Chinese Railway Construction Heavy Industry Company (CRCHI) factory in the city of Changsha, responsible for the production of TBM (TBM - Tunnel Boring Machine) for the needs of the Belgrade metro. These machines, also known as "moles", are key to tunnel excavation and represent one of the most significant investments in modern technology within the project.
A. Mladenović, after visiting the factory, said that in the first phase of the metro, 11 kilometers of underground tunnels will be dug with TBM machines, out of a total of 15 kilometers of the route with 15 stations. "It gives me great pleasure that I was able to visit the factory where two tunnel boring machines (TBM) are manufactured for the first phase of the Belgrade Metro together with representatives of the PowerChina company and their local partners," he said.
A. Mladenović pointed out that the contract for the production of two TBMs was signed in May, and that the machines will be completed next year and delivered to Belgrade in the second half of 2026. "Today we can see machine parts in production, and our expert teams will attend the final testing in January, which is the key stage before delivery," said A. Mladenović.
He reminded that the Chinese company CRCHI has so far produced more than 1,700 TBMs that have dug more than 6,000 kilometers of tunnels around the world, which, he said, instills confidence in the quality and reliability of the equipment destined for Belgrade.
"We are very pleased to have such a partner, and the cooperation between Serbia and China in this project represents a great incentive for the development of Belgrade and the Serbian economy", emphasized A. Mladenović.
General Director of CRCHI He Yongjung said that the TBM machines of his company are used in more than 35 countries in the world and that the experiences are satisfactory and up to standard. "It is used in many countries around the world, such as China, Romania, Poland and Egypt," he said.
This segment of the visit to China is significant because PUC "Belgrade Metro and Train" Belgrade will get acquainted with the complete methodology, details and procedures of making machines, on the spot.
Source: Tanjug
