The firing range in Bleesdall, which is located between Hosingen and Putscheid, will be upgraded, whereas the Waldhof military base is to be completely remodelled. Both projects are expected to cost over 150 million euros.
MPs expressed a broad consensus that contemporary conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, show how important it is to have a modern army with a modern infrastructure.
DP rapporteur Luc Emering said the current Waldhaff buildings were no longer fit for purpose as they did not meet general safety standards:
“They are functionally limited, do not always meet the legal requirements, and currently fall short of NATO standards.”
The new plans are set to change this. CSV MP and mayor Charel Weiler summarised what would come next in accordance with the new law:
“The site will be rebuilt to separate the administrative areas from the munitions storage, in order to guarantee security. The administrative zone will also undergo expansion to meet the army’s required tasks, and the munitions storage will be renovated and expanded to increase capacity and security from outside.”
The renovations will enable staff to work under adequate and safe conditions - an important aspect, says the Left’s David Wagner:
“We believe everyone has the right to work in a safe workplace, not just in the private sector, but also in the public sector. This also applies to the army, so for these reasons, we support this bill.”
Defence minister Yuriko Backes underlined that the risks of another terrible accident, such as the deadly explosion which left two soldiers dead in 2019, should be reduced as much as possible.
The budget for this project is set to be over 80 million euros.
The second project to be unanimously accepted concerns the 70-year-old shooting range in Bleesdall, which requires urgent modernisation.
A number of MPs who recently visited the site said they were shocked at the poor condition of the range and underlined the need for urgent investment.
DP rapporteur Fernand Etgen explained the site could also be used by members of the police or customs officers, ensuring the site could be multi-purpose.
“The Shooting House allows army and police personnel to undergo training exercises inside a house environment, while the Shooting Tower is designed to offer specialist elite shooters optimal training opportunities. The destruction zone is there for personnel to practise the safe disposal of all types of ammunition, and the shelter or bunker gives the bomb disposal unit additional security.”
The project will unfold over three phases, with work expected to last between five and six years. The Pirates’ Marc Georgen said he was happy an alternative had been found for the duration of the renovations, despite the challenges posed:
“Fortunately we can rely on our Belgian partners to help personnel practise while the renovations are ongoing. Our police and army can’t go several years without a shooting range, so we must thank Belgium for making their range available to us. This is linked to numerous authorisations and the Luxembourg army will have a huge task on their hands to be permitted to cross the border with weapons.”
The cost of the new shooting range is 70 million euros.
