The total drive of the Greater Beirut Water Supply Project is about 22km long in total. Three tunnels were bored by two hard rock TBMs (CREC 237/238) designed and manufactured by CREG. 

For the first time that fully automated TBM construction is being employed in this country, the government of Lebanon and the project owner attach particular focus to the two TBMs. The two machines were named "léa" and "Yasmina", which represent generosity, integrity, openness, and bravery, decisiveness, vitality respectively. 

The small diameter of 3.5m makes the TBMs more sophisticated. On March 2nd, 2018, the most difficult and longest tunnel No. 2 (11km) was successfully broke through. With the targeted designs of back-loaded cutting tools, small cutter spacing and non-linear cutter arrangement, “CREC 238” achieved a record of 90.1m daily advance and 1244.2 m monthly advance despite the 600m long curve section with poor geological conditions.

TBM Diameter: 3,530 mm

Tunnel Type: Water Tunnel

Tunnel Length: 2,2371 m

Rock Strength: 50 Mpa

Total Thrust: 8,972 kN

Maximum Torque: 1,800 kN.m (breakout torque)

Cutterhead Drive: Electric, variable speed

Cutterhead Power: 1,200 kW

Cutterhead Rotation: 0-8.5-14.5 rpm