Procurement

The Tunnel project

A number of contracts in the scope of the Tunnel project

The Tunnel project comprises the construction of the parts required for the transport and pumping of wastewater to Sjölunda wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This is divided into a number of contracts, which will be procured at different times.

The Tunnel project is responsible for the transport, storage, and pumping of wastewater to the Sjölunda WWTP, including functions according to the following scope:

The Northern wastewater tunnel: a 10.5 kilometres long tunnel, with an internal diameter of 3 metres, located between Källby in Lund and the Sjölunda pumping station in Malmö.
The Southern wastewater tunnel: a 5.5 kilometres long tunnel, with an internal diameter of 5 metres, located between the central parts of Malmö and the Sjölunda pumping station, and two micro tunnels with a total length of 2.4 kilometres and an internal diameter of 2 metres.
Sjölunda pumping station: a new pumping station located next to the Sjölunda WWTP, connecting the wastewater tunnels with the treatment plant.
Transfer pipes from Borgeby: a new pressurised pipe system for transporting the wastewater from Borgeby in the municipality of Lomma to the Northern wastewater tunnel.

─ The project is technically challenging and in some parts complex. Therefore, we want to find contractors with extensive experience from projects of the same nature, scope and complexity, says Stefan Milotti, Project Manager for the Tunnel project

The division is based on key factors

In dividing the contracts, the project has primarily taken into account interfaces, construction methods, and execution timelines, as well as external analysis and comparisons with projects of a similar nature. The programme’s overall procurement strategies form the planning framework for the project’s contract procurements.

The tunneling works will be procured as turnkey contracts, with the general contractor entering once the basic system design has been completed. The payment model will be unit price contract. For the other contracts, this has not yet been decided.

Read more about the different contracts – Tunnels and shafts, Groundworks, Sjölunda pumping station, and Transfer pipe Borgeby – below.

Current activities

Basic design of the wastewater tunnels and shafts
Conclusions are drawn from the market dialogue, in the form of a Request for Information (RFI) for the tunnel contracts, which was carried out during spring 2025
Preparations for the prequalification of potential contractors for the subproject Tunnels and shafts, planned for spring 2026
Project Automation published a Request for Information (RFI) in mid-September 2025
Strengthening the project organisation with necessary competences

Tunnels and Schafts

The construction of the wastewater tunnels, connecting microtunnels, and associated shafts is divided into two separate contracts – one for the Southern wastewater tunnel and one for the Northern wastewater tunnel.

In order to gain insights and create an attractive setup for contractors, project Tunnel conducted an RFI (Request for Information) during spring 2025. The interest in responding was high, and many valuable viewpoints were received. A recurring topic concerned the conditions for establishing collaboration between contractor and client, and the importance of ensuring that the tender documents and contract provisions allow for this. The project shares this view and will carry it forward.

Examples of works included:

Constructing wastewater tunnels using the TBM technology Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Segmental Lining
Constructing micro tunnels using the TBM technology Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Pipe Jacking
Retaining walls, such as secant piles or diaphragm wall
Excavation works
Concrete works for underground construction

Groundworks

The groundworks include service works and restoration. The purpose of the work is to prepare the work sites for each planned tunnel shaft (primarily regarding utility diversions and service connections), so that the tunneling contractors can establish the work areas smoothly and without delay. A procurement with an option is currently being considered. The following works are included:

Moving services and utilities
Removal of contaminated soil
Preparation of construction sites
Traffic diversion
Reinstatement works

Sjölunda pumping station

When the shaft at Sjölunda WWTP has served its purpose as the launch and reception shaft for tunnelling, the Sjölunda pumping station will be constructed there. This work will be procured as a separate contract, which also includes connecting the existing pipeline network to the tunnel shafts as well as the pumping station to the treatment plant’s inlet building. Examples of works included:

Civil works below and above ground
Mechanical and electrical installatons and plumbing
Delivery and installation of pumps
Connecting to existing gravity system
Commissioning
Landscaping

Transfer pipe Borgeby

The contract covers the pressurised transfer pipe including the necessary pumping stations between Borgeby in the municipality of Lomma and the Northern wastewater tunnel, including:

Excavation and pipe laying works
Construction of new pumping stations
Commissioning

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Wastewater tunnels

A wastewater tunnel beneath the center of Malmö and a wastewater tunnel connecting the municipalities of Burlöv, Lomma and Lund enables the protection of our local water environment and addresses the challenges of population growth.

Bild över Öresund och Öresundsbron i solnedgången, till höger i bild står en person med en cykel på den steniga strandkanten

A regional infrastructure investment

Southwest Skåne is growing and our wastewater infrastructure investment has not kept pace. There is an urgent need to expand and modernise it in several municipalities. This is why VA SYD is planning for providing the regional solution MAXIMA.

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