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Energy and utilities networksProject management support for hydroelectric facilities
Project management support (PMO unit) for the work required regarding the handing back of the Forces Motrices d’Orsières hydroelectric power facilities as the water rights concessions expire in January 2027, as well as studies concerning the future use of hydropower and the process of securing the new 2027-2107 concession.
Context and Objectives
The water rights concessions granted to *Forces Motrices d’Orsières* (FMO SA) in 1905 expire in January 2027. The granting municipalities have therefore decided to exercise their right to end the concessions regarding the hydroelectric facilities in question and to control the future use of hydropower by securing at least majority ownership of the facilities, in accordance with the cantonal strategy.
In this context, committees have been established to manage aspects related to the end of concessions and the granting of new ones, specifically, conducting technical, economic and legal analyses, organising the political decision-making process, preparing the concession application dossier, and planning the future operation of the facility.
President – Municipality of Orsières: “For Orsières, the end of the FMO concessions is crucial, as it will have an impact spanning several generations. It would have been unrealistic for the Municipal Council to undertake this difficult yet exciting process alone. This is especially true given that we are among the first to have to navigate the new version of the Act on the Use of Hydraulic Power, which stipulates that, in principle, at least 60% of the facilities must revert to Valais ownership. Against this backdrop, IMDM has developed a project methodology that ensures optimal administrative, legal and financial oversight. This allows us to focus on our work as elected officials: making informed policy decisions for the well-being of our population.”
Approach and Results
These committees for the handing back of assets and new concessions rely on the PMO unit for tasks such as scheduling deliverables and decisions, coordinating activities, preparing meetings, providing technical secretariat support, and facilitating the validation processes for documents produced by external service providers.
The IMDM team also provided strategic advice, prepared presentations for the public and political bodies, negotiated with various stakeholders, and conducted specific asset management analyses (assessing the facility’s condition, calculating the facility handover indemnity, determining the municipal allocation of hydroelectric power rights and analysing the facility’s future economic viability).
Key figures:
Average production of 107 GWh/year (24,000 households)
“The Municipality of Orsières and IMDM have been collaborating for nearly eight years in the energy sector, working hand-in-hand on strategic guidance, board representation, and specific ad hoc projects. This allowed us to experience firsthand the quality of service provided by the company’s team members. If I had to highlight just two qualities, I would point to the teams’ availability and agility, as well as their thorough understanding of the energy sector’s challenges. Choosing IMDM to support us was, therefore, the natural choice.”
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