The Italian company Ghella, thanks to a joint venture with the Norwegian AF Group, today begins work on the construction of an important undertaking: a tunnel that will guarantee the city of Oslo an alternative reserve to the current water supply. The new aqueduct will bring drinking water to Oslo from Holsjord, in the Lier area, thanks to several connecting tunnels of approximately 18 kilometres, 11 of which will be dug through the use of “moles” or Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). The value of the contract for the construction of the new water distribution network is NOK 8.7 billion (€870 million), of which Ghella holds 40%. The works will be completed at the end of 2027.
Ghella represents one of the best examples of how Italian technology and know-how can play a crucial role in the strategic infrastructure sector. Tunneling represents an important alternative to traditional explosive digging methods and is a technique in which Ghella and other Italian groups have a competitive advantage.
During the opening speech of the event at the TBM assembly cave, the Italian Ambassador to Norway, Stefano Nicoletti, said: “I am pleased that an Italian company is contributing to the realization of large infrastructure projects in Norway and I trust that the successful implementation of this project will encourage the use of Italian “moles” in other infrastructure works in Norway. The use of moles is a new and innovative excavation method compared to traditional excavation through the use of explosives. The excavation of the tunnel system of the new aqueduct will allow Oslo’s water needs to be met for the next hundred years thanks to the use of cutting-edge Italian technology. I am proud that Ghella has been recognized with a new long-term project thanks to the partnership with AF Gruppen, which represents an example of successful synergies that continue to characterize the relationships between Italian and Norwegian industry in strategic sectors such as infrastructure and energy”.
Ghella has recently completed a railway tunnel for the Follo railway line, which connects the town of Ski to Oslo and in the past has dealt with the soil consolidation in the Vestfoldbanen railway section, the construction of the road and bridge system called “Sotra Connection Project ”, in Vestland county, the upgrading of the 13.6 kilometer section of the railway line between the towns of Nykirke and Barkaker, south of Oslo, the foundations of a new high-voltage transmission line in Northern Norway and the installation of jet grouting columns at the University of Oslo.
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