Investigations at the Yong'an Pumped Storage Power Station in Fujian Province, a key national energy project under China's 14th Five-Year Plan, have revealed serious construction quality violations in its lower reservoir dam. The project, contracted to Power Construction Corporation Of China,Ltd (601669.SH) subsidiary Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co., Ltd., reportedly cut corners in critical reinforcement work.
Hundreds of anchor piles designed to stabilize the dam's abutment slopes show major defects, with many installed at merely one-third of their specified lengths. More alarmingly, most piles lacked proper cement grouting as required by technical standards, with workers merely sealing pile openings superficially to pass inspections.
Engineering experts warn that such deficiencies in the dam's foundational support system could compromise the entire structure's safety. The anchor piles, meant to form integrated structures with three steel bars and grouting pipes, were often assembled with spot-welded connections or missing components. Construction records show some piles measured only 3-5 meters when 12-meter lengths were specified.
Despite unapproved design modifications claimed by project deputy manager Zhao Fei, on-site evidence shows loose anchor piles with visible structural weaknesses when tested. Quality control failures were compounded by reports of improper conduct between contractors and supervision teams, including entertainment activities violating professional ethics.
With approximately 600 of 1,000 planned anchor piles installed, workers estimate only 30% meet design standards. Hydraulic engineering specialists caution that substandard piles may reduce slope stability by 30-50%, potentially causing rock displacement or collapse under extreme flood conditions. The lower reservoir dam, designed to withstand once-in-200-year floods, now faces questions about its long-term structural integrity.
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