Posts Tagged ‘infrastructure’
A new special vessel at the Fehmarnbelt project
A new special vessel has arrived in the work harbour in Rødbyhavn. It is the large floating crane “Hebo Lift 9”. The floating crane will place the enormous anchors on the seabed, to which the immersion pontoon IVY will be attached with long steel wires in connection with the immersion of the first tunnel element this spring.
A total of eight anchors weighing 500 tonnes each will be used. The anchors are shaped like large boxes and are lowered onto the seabed. After the immersion of an element, the anchors can then be picked up again by the crane and reused in connection with the immersion of the next element.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 30 Jan
Read MoreLatvia receives record-high EIB Group financing of €381 million in 2025
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group increased financing for Latvia to a record €381 million in 2025 to speed up the green transition, strengthen infrastructure and promote loans for households and businesses. The EIB Group last year also opened its first office in Riga to anchor a closer partnership with authorities, companies and financial intermediaries in the country.
“2025 was a significant year for the EIB Group in Latvia,” said EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer. “With record financing and our new office in Riga, we are now closer to our partners than ever before – supporting energy security, modern infrastructure and better access to finance for people and businesses across the country.”
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 30 Jan
Read More€113 million in EU funding allocated to strengthen the resilience of Baltic and Polish electricity grids
The European Commission has allocated €113 million in funding from Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for critical Synchronisation infrastructure protection implemented by the transmission system operators of Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. The implementation of wider range of projects aimed at ensuring energy security against potential cyber and physical threats began on February 9 last year, following the successful synchronization of the Baltic States with the Continental European electricity network.
“Having successfully completed the synchronization project, the Baltic States and Poland continue to invest in energy independence and security. We are grateful to the European Commission for supporting our ambition to make the Baltic Sea region a model for strengthening the security and resilience of critical energy infrastructure across Europe. This funding is the result of our consistent efforts and sets a new precedent, as until now the European Union had no dedicated financing for the protection of critical energy infrastructure. By consistently applying the lessons learned from Ukrainian energy specialists, we are expanding the scope of protection for our critical energy infrastructure projects. We plan to apply for further funding for resilience projects and are actively working to ensure that a long-term EU-level instrument for financing critical energy infrastructure protection is established,” – said Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 28 Jan
Read MorePreparations underway for immersing tunnel elements into the Fehmarnbelt
Preparations for the special vessel IVY, which will play a key role in the construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, are nearing completion. The approval of the immersion pontoon is almost two years behind the original schedule.
In the coming weeks, the first part of the tunnel trench will be prepared for immersion. The trench is being adapted to the elements, and the contractor is laying a gravel bed to create an even base for the tunnel elements.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 21 Jan
Read MoreIn the dark Power outage gives Bornholm a trial run
At 10:16 this morning, Bornholm lost power. The outage was immediately localised to the submarine power cable linking it with southern Sweden. Precisely 30 minutes later, Trefor El-net Øst, the TSO for the island, announced that the outage had been due to an overload caused by a technical problem; the cable was undamaged.
For the island’s 40,000 residents and its businesses, the three hours or so without power was a minor irritation. For those who are responsible for keeping the island running in the event of a situation of this sort, it was a golden opportunity: not knowing what the reason for the outage was, or how long it would last, emergency plans, including firing up the island’s backup power plant, were set into action.
The good news is that the initial reports seem to indicate that everything went mostly according to plan. More of a concern is the reason for the overload, and why it caused the entire island to black out. Call it an unknown known.
Read MoreRB Rail responds to the publication of the European Court of Auditors’ 2025 report
In 2025, with the involvement of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the implementation of 31 investment projects was launched. The total value of these projects reached €1.01 billion, and 1,350 new jobs will be created. The largest projects last year were related to bioeconomy, smart energy, high-value-added manufacturing, ICT, and other sectors.
Minister for Economics Viktors Valainis: “Latvia aims to be among the most attractive investment destinations in the region, and LIAA’s results in 2025 confirm this—the Agency has attracted the highest investment volume in a single year in Latvia’s history. It is particularly significant that data from the Bank of Latvia show that in the first three quarters of 2025, the total volume of foreign investment increased by €700 million. This means Latvia can and does compete. Our task is to continue improving the business environment, removing obstacles, and ensuring investors have a clear, fast path from concept to implementation.”
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 20 Jan
Read MoreRail Baltica Forum on European Connectivity, Security, and Cooperation
On 22 January 2026, the Rail Baltica Forum on European Connectivity, Security, and Cooperation will take place in Madrid, Spain, continuing the series of high-level Rail Baltica seminars launched last year. The forum marks the first Rail Baltica high-level event of 2026 and highlights Spain’s important role in advancing Europe’s cross-border transport connectivity.
Organised by Rail Baltica together with ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, MAFEX, and the Embassies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Spain, the forum will convene senior policymakers, representatives of European institutions, members of the diplomatic and defence communities, rail infrastructure managers, operators, and industry leaders.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 14 Jan
Read MoreThe other Baltic railway A Tallinn–Vilnius rail link takes form
For years now, rail buffs and those keen on closer EU integration have had their eyes firmly, if nervously, fixed on Rail Baltica, a planned high-speed railway connecting the three Baltic states that is far behind schedule and way over budget. Somewhat overlooked amid that drama has been the steady progress of another, less prestigious railway project connecting Tallinn, Tartu, Rīga and Vilnius via existing railways.
Since last January, when service began on a limited basis—and requiring transfers in each of the three countries—it has transported some 16,000 passengers, well above expectations. That is due to get a bump this year: an extension of service that began on Monday means most of the line can now be travelled without a transfer. A limited number of departures and long travel times will make it less of an option for long-distance travellers, and, even for regional travel, coaches will still be a competitive option, but southern Estonia and northern Latvia in particular are hoping that more infrastructure ties will give rise to better economic ties, spurring growth. Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city, has long felt that a direct connection to someplace other than Tallinn was overdue.
Detractors point out that the €2 million subsidy the line will require is much more than other lines get, and that standing up the service will require a further €400,000 initial investment. Public officials expect the subsidy to fall as passenger numbers grow, but the are concerns that there may not be enough passengers for it ever to become viable. For now, the trains will run, but they may not get much time.
Read MoreRB Rail AS successfully passes ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification audits
In early November, RB Rail AS concluded the final stages of the Integrated Management System audit conducted by Bureau Veritas. During the closing meetings, the auditors confirmed that the organisation fully meets the requirements of ISO 9001 for Quality Management Systems and ISO/IEC 27001 for Information Security Management Systems.
The successful audit outcomes demonstrate RB Rail AS’s strong commitment to maintaining consistent quality standards, effective risk management practices, and robust protection of information assets. These certifications support the implementation of structured processes, clearly defined responsibilities, and a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.
Nataļja Voļaka, Head of Corporate Governance and Quality Department, commented: “Achieving ISO 9001 certification is an important milestone for RB Rail AS. It confirms that our quality management system is built on clear processes, accountability and continuous improvement. I would like to thank all colleagues who contributed to this result through their daily work and commitment. This certification provides a strong foundation for delivering reliable and transparent outcomes across the organisation.”
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 22 Dec
Read MoreBuilding permit granted for Vaasa data centre project
The Building and Environmental Committee of the City of Vaasa, at its meeting on 10 December 2025, approved the building permit application for the plot located at Kuriiritie 7.
The site is planned to accommodate a data centre complex with a total floor area of approximately 66,000 square metres. It is situated in the GigaVaasa area, specifically within the Laajametsä business district near the airport. The project developer is FCDC Corp Oy.
Construction is estimated to commence in 2026, with the data centre expected to become operational between 2028 and 2029.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 11 Dec
Read More