China has unveiled what it says is the world's first tunnel boring and blasting machine, a hybrid system designed to dig through some of the toughest rock formations without the delays caused by switching between different excavation methods. Officials say the new technology could significantly speed up the construction of tunnels for railways, hydropower projects and other major infrastructure.

Equipamento desenvolvido por equipe de pesquisa chinesa busca superar limitações de métodos tradicionais

Standard tunnel boring machines slow down in extremely hard or fractured mountain rock, which has led to delays in infrastructure projects.