IPOH (Dec 17): MMC Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd (MGKT) will spend over RM100 million on refurbishing and upgrading its tunnel boring machines.

The 50:50 joint venture firm of MMC Corp Bhd and Gamuda Bhd is the underground work package contractor for the MRT project Line 1.

MGKT's head of tunneling Ng Hau Wei said the refurbishment and modification works of the tunnel boring machines are in preparation for its next tunneling job.

"We estimate the amount of direct works will cost over RM100 million," he told a media briefing here at their refurbishment plant.

He said the works included the storage and preservation of the boring machines.

According to Ng, MGKT will partner German firm Herrenknecht AG to undertake the necessary works for 10 tunnel boring machines, the same ones which were deployed for MRT Line 1.

Under the agreement, Herrenknecht AG will collaborate with local steel works and heavy engineering specialist Waiko Engineering Works Sdn Bhd to jointly carry out the machine refurbishment works.

Ng foresees the tunneling business in the Southeast Asia region will grow and he said MGKT is looking for more tunneling jobs.

"It is defintely growing if you look at Malaysia and Singapore, and even at Hong Kong. We hope the trend will be positive from now on," he said.