News

This summer saw the unveiling of the two large tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will be used to excavate the second tube of the Gotthard Road Tunnel. These machines, each with a diameter of 12.3 m and weighing 1,800 tons, are now ready to excavate the 15.5-km-long stretch through the Swiss Alps.

The TBMs have been manufactured, pre-assembled and tested at Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau, Germany.

Following their unveiling, the TBMs are now in the process of being dismantled, transported by truck to the tunnel portals and reassembled there, ready for the start of tunnel excavation from the north and south portals in February 2025. The first phase of excavation to the caverns in the fault zone sections of the tunnel will take approximately 10–12 months, with the final breakthrough scheduled for early 2027.

This project marks another milestone in the history of the Gotthard Road Tunnel. We are proud of the work that has been done so far by everyone involved and look forward to seeing how the project progresses. To use a phrase often used to wish good luck in the world of tunnel construction, we wish all those involved in the project “Glück auf!“.

The joint venture “IG Nuovo Gottardo”, consisting of the partners B+S AG, Lombardi Engineering Ltd., ILF Consulting Engineers in Switzerland and Emch+Berger Gruppe, is responsible for the overall design and site management of the second tube of the Gotthard Road Tunnel. The responsible contractors for Lot 241 are the “secondo tubo” consortium led by Implenia Schweiz AG and for Lot 341 the “Consorzio Gottardo Sud” consortium led by Marti Tunnel AG.

Some of ILF’s colleagues have recently joined Aguas Horizonte SpA’s executives and their respective directors from Marubeni and Transelec on a visit to the company’s desalination project site in the Antofagasta region of Chile.

ILF is proud to be involved in this major project of national importance. With extensive and recognized experience in desalination and water transmission, ILF is positioned as a leader in implementing innovative and efficient solutions. Our participation in this desalination project reflects not only our commitment to technical excellence, but also our contribution to mitigating water scarcity in the region by ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply.

As the Owner’s Engineer for Aguas Horizonte SpA, we are excited about the opportunity to add significant value to this project. 🌍💧

Learn more about the Aguas Horizonte Project here 

Between July and August 2024, the Ricken Tunnel, a railway tunnel owned and operated by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), was closed for rehabilitation work. The tunnel was opened to rail traffic in 1910 and needed to be rehabilitated so that it can continue to be used for decades to come.

The Ricken Tunnel is a 8.6-km-long, over 100-year-old single-track railway tunnel located in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. As part of the rehabilitation work on the tunnel, wet and dripping spots were eliminated in the masonry vault and the masonry joints were repaired. The work was carried out by Fretus AG during a total closure of the tunnel.

ILF was commissioned for the design and the supervision of the site during the rehabilitation work.

ILF is a key contributor to Jordan’s comprehensive water sector reform efforts. Working with the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation and related authorities, our multidisciplinary team is providing management consulting, project management and engineering services to enhance water efficiency by reducing non-revenue water and expanding the use of treated wastewater, and to facilitate the introduction of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy solutions in one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. With these services, ILF is supporting Jordan’s National Water Strategy for 2023–2040, which aims to reform the legal and institutional framework of the water sector, restore the balance between water availability and demand, achieve financial sustainability in the sector, and ensure impartial and transparent regulation of services and costs. In this way, ILF is making a significant contribution to a more sustainable future for the country.

Work at the Weissenstein Tunnel (SUI) construction site is progressing at full speed.
The first sections of the damaged masonry vault have been successfully removed and secured as part of the localized complete rehabilitation of the vault.
The most challenging part of the work is the complex geological conditions and the partially unknown conditions outside the existing masonry. The parts of the masonry vault that have been removed are located in the Opalinus Clay section of the railway tunnel – the geologically most challenging section. Differing conditions, fault zones and brittle conditions in the first section of the Opalinus Clay in the Folded Jura make tunneling difficult in this section.

As part of the rehabilitation work on the Weissenstein Tunnel, localized partial and complete rehabilitation of the vault is being carried out in various sections of the tunnel, and the tunnel drainage system, cable systems, safety installations and railway track running through the tunnel are being renewed. Two existing stations are also being modernized to meet the provisions of the Swiss Disability Discrimination Act.

IG WST (ILF Consulting Engineers in Switzerland and Emch+Berger AG Bern) has been commissioned by the sole contractor – the joint venture ARGE EWT (PORR Group and fretus ag) – as the “Tunnel and Stations Project Manager”, responsible for all rehabilitation works in the tunnel and the stations.

ILF Consulting Engineers in United Arab Emirates is thrilled to share an update on our ongoing Provision of Technical Consultancy Services for Power and Water 2024 project in collaboration with the Sultanate of Oman. In a move to strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s water security, SMN Barka Power Company SAOC, a subsidiary of SMN Power Holding SAOG, has entered into a new Water Purchase Agreement with Nama Power and Water Procurement.

Our team at ILF-UAE is providing steadfast support to Nama Power and Water Procurement throughout the Power2024 and the BarkaWater2024 tendering process for several existing plants in Oman, including Manah Independent Power Producer, Barka I Independent Water and Power Producer, Barka II IWPP, Sohar I IWPP, and Rusail IPP.

We are committed to ensuring a seamless selection and award process, allowing the necessary facilities to continue operating beyond the terms of their current contractual agreements.

A great success has been achieved, allowing Barka Water and Power Company SAOG, SMN Barka Power Co., Al Ghubrah Power and Desalination company GPDC and Al Rusail Power Co. to officially sign the relevant PPA and WPA extensions.

Our scope of work encompasses various crucial stages, including:
▪ Project Definition Stage
▪ Competition Process Paper (CPP)
▪ Risk Allocation
▪ Request for Proposal (RFP) Process
▪ Bid Management
▪ Bid Evaluation
▪ Negotiation & Closing.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to drive forward sustainable power and water solutions for a better future.

We are very pleased to announce ILF’s participation in the Quito Metro Line 1 Project, the first metro line to be built in Ecuador.

This groundbreaking project features a 22 km long underground track, encompassing 15 stations, 16+2 six-car trains, and a cutting-edge depot and workshop facilities. This is Ecuador’s first metro line, which went into commercial operation in December 2023.

The overall project was financed by four prestigious multilateral banks: the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Interamerican Development Bank, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), as well as by the Municipality of Quito and the Government of Ecuador.

The Joint Venture between ILF and Ayesa (Spain) was responsible for the site supervision of Metro Quito, including civil works of tunnel and stations, electromechanical systems, rail systems, a depot and workshop, and rolling stock.

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication, collaboration, and vision of all involved parties. Let’s celebrate this groundbreaking success and the progress made in creating an efficient and sustainable metro transportation system in Ecuador.

Being a project between France, Germany and Luxembourg,”mosaHYc” (Moselle-Saar-Hydrogen-Conversion) is a European and pioneering cross-border project in the Grande Région, aimed at providing an initial and innovative infrastructure for the transport of hydrogen across borders. Thus Creos’ and GRTgaz’s mosaHYc project constitutes an essential link to bring together hydrogen producers and users in this region. With a 90 km long pipeline, hydrogen can be used as fuel and energy carrier for the industry, for mobility, reconversion and heat in the Grande Région, thus saving almost one million tons of CO₂ per year. It is an important step to achieve the climate targets for 2030, 2040 and 2045!
To this end, about 70 kilometers of existing gas pipelines, some of which are no longer in operation, are to be converted into hydrogen pipelines. By additionally constructing about 20 kilometers of new hydrogen pipelines, the first hydrogen island network will be created.

We are delighted to be part of the planning and design of this innovative project with our team.
Our experts work on the preparation of the detailed design ready for implementation and on obtaining planning approval from the authorities for the construction of the hydrogen pipeline in the Leidingen-Dillingen section.

The start of the planning approval procedure is scheduled for early 2025. After the start of operation in 2027, the island network will have a capacity of up to 120,00 m³/h, depending on the maximum operating pressure.
mosaHYc is an example of a hydrogen infrastructure that extends beyond national borders.

Work on the construction site of the Gotthard road tunnel – the 2nd tube – in Switzerland is running at full speed. In early May 2024, work in the northern fault zone was initiated by starting construction lot 241, and thus the next important construction phase.
The northern fault zone is an approx. 300 m long section, characterised by weak kakirites in the Urseren zone, at the transition from the Mesozoic to the Permo-Carboniferous. It is located about 4.5 km from the northern portal.

The northern fault zone is excavated prior to the main excavation so that the shield TBM coming from the north can be pushed through. Advance takes place using NATM with full-face excavation. The tunnel face, which has an excavation diameter of 15 m, is divided into a maximum of 8 partial areas and systematically supported by using face bolts. Due to the squeezing rock mass behaviour, yielding support is installed, allowing controlled convergence of the profile before it is fastened. The excavation works are expected to continue until the end of 2025.

The joint venture Nuovo Gottardo (ILF Consulting Engineers in Switzerland, Lombardi SA, B+S AG Bern, Emch+Berger AG Bern) being the “Tunnel project manager”, has been commissioned to carry out all works from the Göschenen portal to the Airolo portal. Within the joint venture, all JV partners are involved in the design work required to deal with the fault zones, with ILF being in charge of the northern fault zone. We wish to thank the construction consortium (lot 241) for carrying out these difficult works under complex conditions.

Exciting news from EverWind Fuels as they announce the completion of FEL-3 & FEED engineering for their first phase of green ammonia production in Nova Scotia. This achievement is a significant industry milestone, marking the first completion of FEED for a green ammonia production facility in the Western hemisphere. The engineering work totaled over 110,000 hours and produced 152 engineering deliverables.
ILF was proud to serve as Owner’s Engineer (OE) and Project Management Consultant (PMC) – a collaboration between the offices in Canada and Germany. 

Everwind Nova Scotia Phase 1

• 2024 start of construction
• 240,000 tons of green ammonia produced per year
• 650 MW onshore wind capacity
• 280 MW electrolyzer capacity
• 150 MW & 100 MWh solar and battery capacity

Feed Engineering Complete

• 30% of engineering design complete
• >100,000 hours of engineering and project planning
• 750 TPD ammonia plant production capacity
• Deepest ice-free port on the east coast
• Brownfield site – 700$MM of existing infrastructure
• First project of its kind in North America with full environmental approval
• Designated “Project of National Strategic Interest”
• Feed engineering complete

“ILF is pleased to partner with EverWind as owner’s engineer on its transformational green ammonia project. We are proud that we will continue to drive forward cutting-edge engineering and support EverWind’s compliance with strict green fuel production criteria including EU RED II definition of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO). We look forward to ensuring that EverWind continues to set new standards in sustainable energy.” (ILF CEO Klaus Lässer)

Read the full press release here: 
EverWind Fuels Announces Completion of FEED for its 1st Phase 240,000 Tonne per Annum Green Hydrogen-to-Green Ammonia Plant

In July 1974, half a century ago, ILF was awarded a contract by Iraq’s State Consulting Company for Oil Projects (SCCOP) to provide engineering and consulting services for the construction of the Strategic Pipeline.

In the same year, Mannesmann contracted ILF to provide design services for the Turkish section of the Iraq–Turkey Pipeline (ITP). Additionally, ILF was tasked with assuming responsibility for the hydraulics of the entire 1,000 km system under a further contract from the Iraq National Oil Company (INOC).

ILF’s success in these contracts not only enabled ILF to enter the Middle Eastern and Turkish markets, but also to apply ILF’s pipeline expertise on an international scale for the first time. In addition, assuming a leading role in the field of Pipeline Engineering, which had previously been dominated by American companies, ILF was also able to establish this field in German-speaking countries.

ILF’s pipeline expertise was developed with determination and purpose during ILF’s early years. Initially focused on oil and gas pipelines, it was rapidly expanded to include pipelines for other media. This expertise was instrumental for ILF being awarded the contract for the Riyadh Water Transmission System (RWTS) in 1977.

Looking back on ILF’s history encourages us to continue acquiring new skills and developing existing ones.

Compiled by Adolf H. Feizlmayr (Co-Founder ILF) in July 2024

ILF is honored to be part of the fourth solar project in Oman in collaboration with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company.

The large-scale solar project in the Sultanate – the 500-MW Ibri III Solar Photovoltaics Independent Power Project – will be built on an area of about 10 million square meters in Al Dhahirah Governorate, with commercial operation scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026.

The initiative is a significant step towards Oman’s renewable energy goals, and aligns perfectly with OmanVision2040 and its commitment to NetZero plans.

At ILF, we’re honored to play a pivotal role in this endeavor. Our scope of work includes crucial tasks such as site selection studies, training, environmental authority approvals, and providing technical advisory services.

We’re committed to contributing to a sustainable future and are proud to be part of such a ground-breaking initiative.

Our Sustainability Report showcases our strong commitment to sustainability, in line with our vision to be a leader in improving the quality of life around the globe.
Some of the highlights of this year’s report include:

• Planet (Environmental Topics): Disclosure of our greenhouse gas emissions and top 3 sources of emissions in 2023, along with definition of measures to reduce our emissions
• People (Social Topics): Details on our work culture at ILF, the benefits we offer our employees and the contribution we make to society
• Digitalization: Status quo and the measures we are taking to actively drive digital transformation within ILF in order to operate in a more resource-efficient manner and develop innovative solutions
• Governance: An overview of the systems in place at ILF, the principles that guide our business practices, and our measures with regard to compliance and long-term social and environmental compatibility in our design and consulting work

Our focus for 2023 was on our ongoing work to become an Employer of Choice and the further development and implementation of our Net Zero Roadmap.

We are delighted to present our Sustainability Report 2023 at a time of the year when our leaders gather for the annual ILF Leadership Conference, which for 2024 has the theme “Climate Change – Change the Climate?”.

Have a look at ILF’s Sustainability Report here.

The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) supports Jordan in the development of a green hydrogen production hub in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. Within this initiative, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan has signed MoU with 13 developers for the production of up to 5 million tons of green ammonia per year. The sites for renewable power generation (wind and photovoltaic), for the hub and a water desalination plant have already been identified.

EBRD has now commissioned ILF to prepare the masterplan for the Green Hydrogen Common Infrastructure including the technical and commercial concept for its implementation. ILF’s team consists of more than ten internal and external key experts in areas such as renewables, power transmission, hydrogen production, environment, ports and water desalination.

The objective of the assignment is to provide advice to Jordanian ministries on how to establish a green hydrogen sector in the country. Main work packages are stakeholder engagement, site evaluation, energy infrastructure design from generation to port and the preparation of commercial structuring based on fair risk allocation between all project participants.

The assignment is another cornerstone for ILF to become one of the leading engineering consulting firms for the global energy transition.

In order for Germany to become climate-neutral by 2045, the country’s electricity grid must be expanded. 
High-capacity direct current lines such as SuedLink will play a key role in ensuring a secure supply of green electricity in the future.

In the SuedLink project, another important milestone has been reached: The application documents for the consultation procedure have been submitted in full and on time, which means that the permit application procedure for design section 2 of SuedLink has been completed and is now pending the final decision from the approval authority. The timely submission of the application documents is important not only because of the challenging topography and technically complex closed crossings along the cable route, but also to ensure that construction can begin on schedule.

The next step will be the start of construction design/detailed design and objection management, which will involve responding to objections from public and private stakeholders. This will be followed by a hearing and, ideally, the planning approval decision in spring 2025, after which construction can begin. SuedLink essentially consists of two direct current (DC) transmission lines (two systems with a voltage level of 525 kV, each with two-pole plastic-insulated cables) running from north to south, which have been planned and are to be built and operated in parallel. 

The two lines will be laid side by side for most of the route to minimize the impact of construction on people and the environment. We are proud of our experts who have been contributing to the SuedLink project since 2019. Most recently, this has involved preparing the full permit application design and application documents. 

We would like to congratulate everyone involved in the project on this milestone and we look forward to the next steps.

The Marafiq–Jubail Industrial Water Treatment Plant-8 Expansion Stage 4 project in Saudi Arabia is a critical endeavor that aims to strengthen water treatment infrastructure while promoting sustainability in the region. This project has been meticulously designed to seamlessly integrate new facilities with existing ones, with two primary objectives in mind: to increase the plant’s treatment capacity and to meet Saudi Arabia’s high water quality standards.

Once complete, the project is foreseen to treat influent industrial wastewater at an astonishing rate of 125,000 cubic meters per day. This substantial capacity ensures that the project can meet the ever-increasing demand for clean and treated water in the region. The facilities have been intricately designed to meet the rigorous water quality standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Stage 4 layout also allows for future expansion of the system.

The project underscores ILF’s unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable water management. ILF and its team are pleased to report that progress has been made on this vital water project.

Major rehabilitation work has begun on the Weissenstein Tunnel in Switzerland. The tunnel is currently closed until the work is completed, scheduled for the end of 2025.
The tunnel was opened to traffic in 1908 and needs to be rehabilitated so that it can continue to be used for decades to come.

The Weissenstein Tunnel is a 3.7 km long, over 100 year old single-track railway tunnel that runs through the approximately 1,300 m high Weissenstein mountain and is owned and operated by the Bernese Alpine Railway Company Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon. The existing tunnel has a masonry vault as well as an open water intake and a drainage system. The large groundwater inflow from the mountain, which can be several 100 l/s, has to be collected and diverted.

The rehabilitation work will include localized partial and complete rehabilitation of the vault in various sections of the tunnel, as well as renewal of the tunnel drainage system, cable systems, safety installations and track. Two existing stations will also be gradually modernized to make them accessible.

IG WST (ILF Consulting Engineers in Switzerland and Emch+Berger AG Bern) has been commissioned by the sole contractor – the joint venture ARGE EWT (PORR Group and fretus ag) – as the “Tunnel and Stations Project Manager”, responsible for all rehabilitation works in the tunnel and the stations.

In Aalborg – about a three-hour drive from Esbjerg – the next milestone in Denmark’s sector coupling program will soon be reached; a step towards decarbonizing the heat supply in Denmark. With a total heating capacity of 132 MW, the planned heat pump plant in Aalborg will be two and a half times larger than the world’s largest CO₂-based heat pump plant in Esbjerg.

In total, the seawater heat pump plant in Aalborg will supply one third of the city with district heating and save around 160,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. The plant, to be built in Denmark’s third largest municipality, will consist of three heat pumps, each with a capacity of 44 MW, and is expected to supply around 550,000 MWh of heat per year. Similar to in Esbjerg, the system in Aalborg will use electricity from renewable energy sources and energy harnessed from seawater to generate heat. Construction of the plant is scheduled to start in August 2024.

We have been suppporting MAN Energy Solutions in the development of and processing of orders for such heat pump plants since 2020, most recently with the heat pump project in Esbjerg.
With the award of the EPC contract for this project in Aalborg to MAN, we are delighted that our team of experts can once again contribute to the planning and implementation of the world’s largest CO₂-based heat pump with our electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and automation technology services.

In response to the Paris Agreement (2016) and our ambition at ILF to be net zero not only as a company but also in our project delivery, ILF’s Sustainable Solutions Competence Center has developed a Green House Gases (GHG) methodology to calculate, reduce and mitigate GHG emissions for our clients.

GHG-related “products” and “activities” are critically analyzed by our experts in relation to their design data, emission factor and mitigation potential to arrive at options that provide the best solution for our clients and our planet.

If you are interested in our Sustainable Solutions Services, get in touch with Andrea.Richmond@ilf.com.

ILF Consulting Engineers has been contracted to design the first 8.1 km section of the Metro Line 3 in Warsaw. The section, located in the Praga district of Warsaw, comprises seven stations – six of which will be newly built. There will also be a branch line leading to the Technical and Parking Station called Goat Hill.

Our tasks include preparing an environmental impact report and obtaining a decision on the location of the metro line, developing construction designs and obtaining the necessary administrative decisions, as well as providing author’s supervision. The work will be carried out in a consortium with Metroprojekt.

The Warsaw metro is a modern, safe, environmentally friendly and high-capacity means of public transport, which is extremely important both for the residents of the capital and for visitors – after all, Warsaw is an important transport hub on the map of Europe. In the words of Marcin Przepiórka, Managing Director of ILF Consulting Engineers Polska, “We must not forget how the metro helps to shape the city – wherever the metro is built, we see the city develop”.