Preservation of the element factory
Preservation of element factory
It was originally planned that the factory would be demolished when the production of the tunnel elements for the coast-to-coast section of the Fehmarnbelt project was complete. However, on 14 December 2023, the Danish parliament passed a law ensuring that, when tunnel element production is complete, both the production area and production facilities at Rødbyhavn can be preserved and continue in state ownership under the auspices of Sund & Bælt.
Work on defining how the preserved factory is to be organised and operated has begun.
It is anticipated that Femern A/S will have finished using the facility for the production of the Fehmarnbelt link by the end of 2027.
From 1 January 2028, it is expected that the factory can be used for other governmental and non-governmental projects.
Advantages of retaining the element factory
Keeping the element factory is deemed to offer significant advantages for realising future state mega-infrastructure projects including the likes of infrastructure and energy islands. Surplus capacity at the factory can also benefit the private market, e.g. for promoting green transition projects.
Making future projects less expensive: Preserving the factory offers significant financial savings potential for future projects. Such potential will vary depending on what is to be produced. However, the potential will be considerable for all projects because there will be no need for a new factory.
Shorter construction phases and fewer risks for future projects: Preserving the factory will help to shorten construction periods by 1-2 years for future projects because no time will need to be factored in for the construction of a new one. It will also reduce risks and complexity in future projects because production will take place at a tried and tested facility. Reuse of the factory will build on real experience from other projects.
Enhanced sustainability: By reusing the factory for future state mega-infrastructure projects, the environmental and climate impacts during a project’s construction phase are reduced. Reusing the factory will result in a CO2 saving for future projects, contribute to reducing noise and air pollution, reduce the consumption of natural resources and avoid impacts on new land and sea areas with potential natural and cultural assets. This is because resources would not be used to demolish the factory and nor would they be used to establish new factories for future projects.
Maintaining local skills: Maintaining the factory and ensuring continued operations, will make it possible to retain the many skills that have already been accumulated locally and regionally in relation to the Fehmarnbelt link on Lolland, Falster and South Zealand.
Potential for Danish business: Retaining the factory will create a clear and secure planning basis for ancillary industries to the factory. This applies to both current and new industries that, based on the green transition, are expected to service future mega projects.
What projects could be handled at the element factory?
A range of possible future state mega-infrastructure projects could potentially be handled at the retained element factory.
Before that, if relevant, they would need to be approved by the Danish Parliament and go through a subsequent tender process.
At present, no decision has been made on specific projects that will be able to use the element factory in the future. In addition to supplying concrete elements for future state infrastructure projects, such as the Eastern Ring Road, it will also be possible to use the factory for other governmental (and non-governmental) projects that require an industrial production method and shipping facilities. This could, for example, be the concrete foundations for large offshore wind turbines or other renewable energy facilities to be established in the future as part of the green transition.
Background for the preservation of the element factory
Find legislative proposals, consultation notes, environmental impact assessments and background reports as well as presentations and recordings from public meetings in 2022.