China Tightens Exports, India Prepares to Build Tunnel Boring Machines Locally
On November 3, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal responded to reports of China restricting exports of tunnel boring machines (TBMs), stating that if Chinese exports are curtailed, India will develop such equipment domestically.
Indeed, India is now aiming to manufacture TBMs independently.
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, India has already achieved the capability to produce TBMs with diameters of 8 meters and 15 meters, and is preparing to develop machines exceeding 16 meters in diameter. The country plans to allocate approximately 7 to 8 trillion rupees over the next five years for the advancement of tunneling infrastructure.
However, it should be noted that the ability to produce TBMs of 8-meter and 15-meter diameters does not indicate full mastery of indigenous design and manufacturing capacity. As reported by Reuters in August, India continues to rely heavily on imported TBMs, with domestic content estimated at 80% to 85%, and prior efforts to localize production have not significantly reduced import dependence.
Moreover, India has engaged in cooperation with companies from Germany, France, and other nations since at least 2007, yet has failed to establish a mature and stable domestic manufacturing ecosystem for large-scale tunnel boring machines. Most partnerships have ended without substantial outcomes—such as the 2009 agreement between India’s state-owned BEML and French firm NFM Technologies, which aimed to produce TBMs in India but eventually stalled. Thus, whether this latest push toward self-reliance will succeed remains uncertain.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880833903236103/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.