Korean firm makes 777m underground Doha sewer span

Doha's sewerage system is undergoing major redevelopment.

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Korean pipe-jacking specialists DongAh Geological Engineering Co has created a 777m underground ‘span’ linking two manholes – part of a massive project commissioned by the Doha Public Works Authority on its new sewerage system.

The span, believed to be one of the longest in the UAE , is part of Doha North Sewerage project that includes a wider 33km of uninterrupted sewerage line. Work began on the AED1.3billion project in 2008 and the main contractor is Korean firm Ultra Construction, with KEO are the project management consultants, and Stanley Consultants controlling onsite consultancy services.

The span sits 30-40metres below the ground and links two of the system’s 96 main vertical shafts with a 2.5m internal diameter pipe.

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The project will eventually see sewage from north of Doha and south of Al Khor reach a treatment plant being worked on by Vinci.

“The job has been challenging especially when you consider drilling 30m to 40m deep. We encountered a lot of sea water which had to be dug out,” Dongah Qatar managing director Sung An Jea told The Gulf Times yesterday. He also said that it took the Korean firm a while to get used to the Qatari climate and “ground realities”.

“We soon recovered our lost time and are now on schedule with our part of the project slated to be completed by January 2011,” Jea said

Jea also told the paper that the company had bought at least 13 new tunnel boring machines (TBM) based on ongoing infrastructure works planned for Qatar.

“The TBMs are a long-term investment. Ashghal has recently invited tenders for similar grand project in Doha South and we are obviously very interested,” Jea said. “We are also keeping an eye on the proposed metro. We have helped build the underground portions of metro lines in Singapore City and Seoul.”