Information about the project
Project Owner: State Border Guard Service
Project is implemented by: EPSO-G
About the Project
On 23 August 2021, after the Belarusian regime launched a hybrid attack against Lithuania and after the influx of irregular migrants, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal by the Ministry of the Interior to install a physical barrier on the border with Belarus. The Government also decided that EPSO-G, a group of companies managed by the Ministry of Energy, will be the promoter of this project of special importance to the State.
EPSO-G were installed a physical barrier along the border with Belarus, approximately 500 km long, by September 2022. Lithuania’s border with Belarus is 679 kilometres long, with more than 100 kilometres of the border along rivers and lakes, where the physical barrier is not planned to be installed. The wall was also not be built in nature reserves, forested wetlands or other places that are impassable due to difficult natural conditions and serve as a natural barrier.
Two stages of the installation of the physical barrier
The project was divided into two stages in order to ensure that the physical barrier is in place as soon as possible at key border areas.
In the first stage, a physical barrier of approximately 100 km was installed in the most critical border areas near Druskininkai, A. Barauskas, and Adutiškis, which posed the greatest threat due to irregular migration. Tetas, a company of the EPSO-G Group, was chosen to carry out the works in these border areas due to its significant experience in infrastructure projects and the necessary qualifications. The first stage of construction began in September 2021 and was completed by the end of April 2022.
In order to install the physical barrier under competitive conditions and with maximum transparency, public procurement procedures for the second stage of the construction works — covering approximately 400 km of the physical barrier — were launched at the end of September.
At the beginning of December, contracts were signed with the companies selected through the public procurement process: Kauno Tiltai, Alkesta, Brosta, and Tetas.
Companies Kauno Tiltai and Alkesta, working under a joint venture agreement, installed a physical barrier in two areas: approximately 100 km in the southern section and about 70 km in the northern section. A concertina wire and fence covering approximately 100 km in the southeastern section were installed by Brosta, while Tetas, a company of the EPSO-G Group, installed a concertina wire and fence in the eastern section, also around 100 km long. All companies completed the second stage of the physical barrier by 1 September 2022.
Design and installation of the physical barrier
During the construction of the physical barrier along the border section, a concertina prism was installed right next to the state border line. Later, fence segments with a concertina spiral on top were erected directly adjacent to it. The total height of the fence with concertina above ground reaches approximately 4 meters.
PROJECT GOALS AND SIGNIFICANCE
The first stage of the installation of the physical barrier on the border with Belarus
- The physical barrier was installed in the most vulnerable areas along the border with Belarus – Druskininkai, A. Barauskas, and Adutiškis border barriers areas.
- The total length of the border with Belarus protected by these points is more than 100 km.
- The first stage of the physical barrier was being carried out by Tetas, a company managed by EPSO-G.
- Tetas carried out the procurement, and supply of materials, construction and other related works in accordance with the Terms of Reference provided by the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), at a cost of approximately EUR 30 million (excluding VAT).
- The works of the first stage were completed as planned at the end of April 2022.
The second stage of the installation of the physical barrier on the border with Belarus
- The physical barrier was installed along approximately 400 km of the border with Belarus.
- A call for tenders was launched on 30 September 2021 for the installation of the physical barrier.
- At the beginning of December, EPSO-G has signed with companies awarded the contracts regarding installations of the second stage of the project.
- Two sections of the second stage - the southern section of about 100 km and the northern section of about 70 km - were installed by companies Kauno Tiltai and Alkesta, working under a joint venture agreement. The value of contracts with these companies amounts to EUR 16.6 million and EUR 15.6 million (excluding VAT), respectively.
- In the southeastern section of about 100 km, the concertina and fence was installed by company Brosta; the value of the contract is approximately EUR 27.1 million (excluding VAT).
- In the southern section of about 100 km, the concertina and fence was installed by EPSO-G Group company Tetas; the value of the contract is approximately EUR 29.1 million (excluding VAT).
- The works of the installation of the physical barrier were finished on September 2022.