Making Way for Aishihik 3

We have started removing rock from our underground Aishihik hydro plant, to make way for a new generator that will be installed late next year. The new turbine, known as Aishihik 3, will add seven megawatts of capacity to the existing plant, which current has the ability to produce 30 megawatts of power.

The rock removal involves first drilling holes for the sticks of dynamite and then doing very controlled blasting. The photos below show this process.

We have been asked if members of the public will notice the blasting. The short answer is no. The blasting is taking place 110 metres underground and is very contained. It is undetectable to anyone above ground.

Photo credit: Derek Crowe

 
Drilling holes for the dynamite.

Discussing blasting strategy

Filling drill holes with dynamite

Preparing the first 'shot'. The explosives are timed with millisecond delays in a specific sequence; in this case the explosives at centre left will fire first.