Projectdetails

• Dates: Start reinforcement works early 2019. Start line works June 2020 to December 2020.

• Builder: Elia

• Client: JV EQOS ENERGY-CI2000 & JV Engema-Eiffage

• Project scale: +/- €25 million

• Characteristics: planning, stakeholder management, site coordination, high voltage

Context

The project is part of the reinforcement of the entire 380kV backbone. In this project, the section between Ghent and the border with France near Tournai was upgraded. As a result, the line is future-proof and more energy can be exchanged with neighboring countries. Another step closer to a strong European grid where energy from different sources is exchanged.

Challenges

Elia divided the project into five lots, which were carried out by three foreign contractors. Added to this are 10 or so subcontractors, stakeholders such as companies, Infrabel, De Vlaamse Waterweg, the E17 and E40 motorways, etc. It is clear that this requires enormous coordination.

Needless to say, 2020 was a special year. First, of course, there was Corona, then there were permitting issues and finally quality problems with the conductors supplied. Hops was in charge of this crisis management, consultation, communication and adjusting schedules.

The role of hop

Hop was a liaison between the foreign, and foreign-language, contractors and Elia. Hop was also responsible for local contacts in stakeholder management. On the technical side, hops provided planting plans, guidance in working methods and risk analyses.

For this project hop also managed as an independent party 2 joint ventures of 2 contractors each who took care of the 5 lots.

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