IGC Statement on ElecLink project
On 21 November 2019, the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) received Eurotunnel’s final dossier relating to its project to install a high voltage direct current (HVDC) electrical interconnector in the north running tunnel. This dossier contains the risk assessment of this infrastructure, named ElecLink. The IGC issued conditional consent for this project in 2014, in accordance with Article 17.2 of the Concession Agreement, and suspended consent in October 2017. In July 2018 the IGC also issued a Direction under Article 27.5 of the Channel Tunnel Concession Agreement prohibiting installation of the cable until such time as the consent is reinstated.
The assessment of this dossier is in progress, especially consideration of the relevant safety issues. For this purpose, the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) has engaged external experts to advise on specific points.
Once the CTSA has completed its assessment, it will provide a recommendation to the IGC, which will then have to decide whether consent for the project may be reinstated.
The IGC plans to make its decision in April 2020.
9 January 2020
