Energy Minister Chris Bowen ‘deeply concerned’ as Snowy Hydro 2.0 hits latest setback

The massive tunnel boring machine which was stopped in its tracks in December has hit another setback in the multibillion-dollar Snowy Hydro 2.0 project.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen is “deeply concerned” by delays on the Snowy Hydro 2.0 energy project, as it can be revealed a tunnel boring machine halted in its tracks since December resumed drilling briefly this month before stopping again.

Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Florence — one of three massive machines drilling tunnels for the enormous renewable energy scheme — came to a standstill four months ago when it hit soft ground while burrowing through Kosciuszko National Park.

The machine finally restarted earlier this month, but was stopped again soon after, with Snowy Hydro saying that more work had to be done to prop up the soft earth around it after a 9m deep hole opened up above it.

A spokesman for Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said he was concerned at the lengthy delay.

“The minister has made it clear publicly on several occasions that he has been deeply concerned by the delays in this important project,” the spokesman said.

Chris Bowen (inset) wants answers on the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project delays.

“He was very concerned in particular that the delay was hidden before the election despite the fact that the previous minister and Snowy Management were aware the project was behind time.

“The Minister has engaged closely with the new CEO and has made it clear that getting this project back on track and being transparent with the public about the obstacles is Snowy’s number one priority.”

NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe warned earlier this week the state faced power shortfalls if renewable energy projects “are slow to roll out or face delays”.

A spokeswoman for Snowy Hydro would not confirm if drilling would be back under way by May, or how much the delays would cost on the project, which has already blown out by nearly a billion dollars to $6bn.

“The tunnel boring machine is not stuck, nor does it need to be extracted — this has never been the case,” she said.

“Earlier this month, operations on TBM Florence recommenced temporarily, confirming its technical soundness and capability.”

The spokeswoman added the machine was paused in December “so that the area of weak material in front of it could be stabilised through grouting operations”.

“A number of other planned measures, including construction of a slurry plant at Tantangara, are well advanced so that safe and effective tunnelling from this machine … can continue.

“Once through the stabilised soft ground, the machine will strike hard rock and we expect normal tunnelling to resume.”

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien said the delays came as baseload power producers — like the Liddell coal-powered station due to close later this month — were scheduled to go offline.

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