Information about the project
Project Owner: State Border Guard Service
Project is implemented by: EPSO-G
Project is supervised by an interinstitutional Project Supervision Commission chaired by the Prime Minister. The Commission also includes the Ministers of the Interior, Energy, National Defence, Environment, and Finance, the Commander of the State Border Guard Service, the Head of the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate, and a representative of the EPSO‑G Group implementing the Project.
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 will install 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 will 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 is 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 at the most important border barriers areas of Druskininkai, A. Barauskas and Adutiškis that pose the greatest threat due to irregular migrants. Tetas, an EPSO-G Group company, was chosen to carry out the works on these border areas as it has significant experience in infrastructure projects and the necessary qualifications to carry out the works. The works of the first stage started in September 2021. They were completed until the end of April 2022.
In order to install the physical barrier under competitive conditions and with maximum transparency, public procurement procedures were launched at the end of September for the second stage of the construction works, a section of the physical barrier of about 400 km; at the beginning of December, contracts were signed with companies selected during public procurement: “Kauno tiltai”, “Alkesta”, “Brosta”, and “Tetas”.
Companies “Kauno tiltai” and “Alkesta”, working under a joint venture agreement, will install the physical barrier in two areas: a southern section of about 100 km and a northern section of about 70 km. A concertina and fence of about 100 km will be installed in the southeastern section by company “Brosta”, while company “Tetas” of the EPSO-G Group will install concertina and fence in the eastern section of about 100 km. The companies will complete the physical barrier of the second stage until 1 September 2022.
Design and installation of the physical barrier
When the physical barrier is installed in the border area, the first step is to build a concertina pyramid at the state border line. Once the pyramid is built, segments of the fence will be installed in front of the pyramid, with one concertina spiral on the top. The total height of the fence and concertina will be approximately 4 metres above the ground.
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.