Tender for the construction of a rockfall barrier at the Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Station

Landsvirkjun will tender the construction of a rockfall barrier at the Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Station during the summer of 2023.

The project involves the installation of rockfall protection, excavation for berms in steep mountainous terrain and securing and reinforcing back walls.

Site conditions will be challenging, in mountainous terrain, and without access roads. All equipment/materials will therefore need to be transported by crane or helicopter. Safety issues will be of utmost importance. Specialist knowledge is required for the project and specific requirements will be included in the tender documents.

Among criteria that will be made is:

1. The contractor shows proof of fitness for the excavation work (need of a spider digger and two experienced spider digger drivers).
2. The contractor has at least three rockfall barrier reference projects to present which concern the construction of the systems in steep mountaineous terrain, executed in the last 5 years.
3. The contractor’s staff is rope access qualified according to European standard ( or corresponding national standard).

(The above criteria are preliminary and are subject to change).

• Contract Documents are confirmed to be made available on the 7th of September (2022-09-07) at utbod.landsvirkjun.is.
• An online-information meeting will be held 2022-09-12 at 13.00 GMT.
• There is also scheduled a visit on the 8th of September so that prospective bidders can assess on-site conditions.
• Interested parties should register at innkaup@landsvirkjun.is before the 6th of September 2022 for the site visit. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to participate in the site-visit as well as the on-line information meeting.
• Interested parties will not be reimbursed for costs associated with the site visit but are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the conditions on-site.

• Installation of temporary rockfall protection, supervision (of this), and other safety measures during the construction period.
• Excavation and cutting to secure berms and barriers (3 metres in width) designed to last for the project’s lifetime. Construction will be executed in steep slopes, and excavation will involve digging in both loose and solid material and strengthening the back wall (approx. 4 metres in height).
• The installation of approx. 150 metres of rockfall protection (5-6 metres in height) in accordance with the requirements and instructions of the manufacturer as well as any associated ground and foundation work for the structure (concrete foundations, drilling and anchors etc.).
• Securing loose cuttings on-site (with iron netting and anchors).