Renovations at Waldhof camp to improve security

The military camp in its current form at Waldhof no longer meets the needs of a modern army, Minister of Defence François Bausch explained during a press conference on Thursday to present plans for the new site.

© Mike Elsen / RTL

The centrepiece of the plans consists of 13 "igloos", or partially underground munitions depots. Police and customs officers will be able to store ammunition there alongside the army.

Army Chief of Staff Steve Thull explained that each individual igloo will hold up to 10 tons of explosives - a 50% increase in capacity across the 13 depots compared to the current options. The plans also include the construction of a hangar for storing equipment.

General Thull added that no bombs are defused at the ammunition storage facility. The bomb disposal unit usually carries out a controlled explosion at the site of the discovery, or, if that is not feasible, the explosive device is usually transported to Belgium. Sometimes devices have to be temporarily stored, which is then done in a building in Waldhof. The handling of equipment in general will be made safer by the redevelopment of the site, the minister said.

The modifications to the site are all the more urgent due to the fact that Luxembourg is required to bring infrastructure in line with NATO standards. The site's security will be updated and administrative buildings renovated to include offices and training infrastructure, said Thierry Hirtz of the Public Buildings Administration.

One advantage of the redevelopment is that only two-thirds of the current 29-hectare site located in a Natura 2000 area of ​​Grünewald will be used. A third of the area, about ten hectares, will be re-wilded.

The project is estimated to cost around 81.5 million euros. The ad hoc bill has been tabled and is awaiting the Council of State's opinion. Bausch said he hopes that work can begin in 2025, lasting roughly five to six years. The site must remain in service, so it will not be an easy project.