On June 1, the Qaidam Basin Water Resources Allocation Project in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province officially commenced its Phase One (Main Pipeline Section) construction in the second construction area of the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) general contracting project.. This major water infrastructure initiative, contracted by China Communications Construction Company Shanghai Dredging Co., Ltd. (CCCC Shanghai Dredging), aims to optimize regional water resource allocation and ensure water supply security for Golmud, Mangya, and Lenghu Circular Economy Industrial Parks. It holds significant strategic importance for promoting local economic and social development and ecological conservation.
The project serves as a supporting water supply facility for the Nalenggele River Hydraulic Complex, diverting water from the complex to Golmud and the Mangya-Lenghu Circular Economy and Industry Parks. It is designed to transfer approximately 269 million cubic meters of water annually. The scope of the second construction area, undertaken by CCCC Shanghai Dredging, extends approximately 16 kilometers and includes the installation of 16 kilometers of 3PE (three-layer polyethylene) coated steel pipes with a diameter of 2.2 meters, 12 kilometers of half-meter diameter drainage pipes, 1.8 kilometers of concrete retaining walls, and 26 inspection wells, among other auxiliary works.
Situated on a plateau desert with an average elevation of 2,800 meters, the project is faced with severe environmental conditions including low oxygen levels, extreme cold, strong winds, and significant temperature variations. Additionally, there are technical challenges such as the large volume of pipeline material required, extensive transport distances, excavation depths exceeding five meters, and complex safety management during lifting operations. In response, the CCCC Shanghai Dredging project team carried out scientific planning and made technological innovations, adopting specific measures such as robotic welding and total station surveying techniques to enhance pipeline installation accuracy and welding quality. Furthermore, to strengthen safety controls, steel sheet pile supports and real-time monitoring have been employed for deep excavation operations, complemented by an on-site high-altitude medical facility to safeguard worker health.
The project rigorously adheres to environmental protection requirements by constructing combined temporary-permanent access roads, enforcing waste classification management, and conducting dust control measures to minimize ecological impacts. It also incorporates energy-efficient equipment and low-carbon management practices, striving to achieve Level 1 Standardization in Hydraulic Engineering Safety Production and the National Quality Engineering Award.
The representative from CCCC Shanghai Dredging stated that the company will leverage its expertise as a central enterprise in infrastructure construction, strictly upholding high standards to ensure timely completion and acceptance of the project, thus contributing effectively to Qinghai Province’s water resource optimization and socio-economic development.
The implementation of this project will substantially mitigate water scarcity issues in the Qaidam Basin, enhance regional water resource distribution systems, and provide essential support for Qinghai’s green circular economy and economic prosperity in Tibetan areas. Upon completion, the project will significantly bolster industrial water security in Golmud, Mangya, and Lenghu regions, supporting the sustainable development of pillar industries such as salt lake chemicals, petroleum, and natural gas chemicals.
Reprinted from China Communications News