Port accessThe Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the Port Authority of Bilbao have signed an action protocol under which the surplus materials from the Lamiako Subfluvial Project will be used in the backfilling works of the second phase of the Central Breakwater Project of the Port of Bilbao.
The agreement was signed by Carlos Alzaga, Head of the Infrastructure and Territorial Development Area of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and Ricardo Barkala, President of the Port Authority. Both representatives described the agreement as a clear example of circular economy, in line with the environmental impact statements that apply to both construction projects, which essentially indicate that the use of surplus materials should be prioritised over the use of natural resources.
Over the last twenty years or so, the Port Authority has been investing heavily in the creation of new port infrastructure subsequently to be managed by private operators under concessionary contracts, with the end goal of business diversification, to consolidate and attract port traffic and to project and grow the intermodal activity of the Port of Bilbao. In line with this, it has put out to tender the works for the construction of the quay and the corresponding backfill relating to Phase II of the Central Breakwater, work on which is now underway.
Likewise, at the same time and in addition to the work being done by the port and described above, a tender is to be launched by the Provincial Council for the construction of the “Lamiako Subfluvial”, or tunnel under the river, work on which is scheduled to begin in 2025. Under this project, a tunnel is to be built under the river, connecting the two banks of the river between the Artaza and Ballonti roundabouts and which, amongst other benefits, is designed to improve the efficiency of the road network and environmental conditions.
The environmental policies of both the Port Authority and the Provincial Council for these works include the management of surplus materials. These policies also promote the efficient use of resources through their reuse, with a strategic commitment by the public administrations as a whole, as well as the involvement and commitment of all economic and social stakeholders.
For Ricardo Barkala, President of the Port Authority, “this is an example of collaboration between two public organisations, of tapping into synergies for the common good. The Provincial Council needs to dispose of surplus materials from public works and the Port Authority needs those materials as backfill for a port quay, which is why the protocol we have signed enables both parties to reuse and recycle the surplus materials from excavations and earthworks”.
Similarly, for Carlos Alzaga, Head of the Infrastructure and Territorial Development Area of the Provincial Council, this agreement “reflects our commitment to the promotion and development of the circular economy in building new infrastructure, and is an example of the strategy of collaboration with other public institutions and organisations in the search for sustainable solutions for the further development of our province”.
The volume of surplus materials from the related works planned by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia is estimated at approximately 1.8 million cubic metres.
