The Lithuanian government gave the green light on Monday to allocate up to 152 million euros to build a 508-kilometre fence on the border with Belarus.
The cabinet has designated the Epso-G Group, owned by the Lithuanian Energy Ministry, as the project’s implementer.
"The objectives of the project are clear. We have to complete the work by September next year, and we are preparing for that now," chief executive officer Rolandas Zukas said on Monday, adding that the project's key challenges lie in the supply of materials.
“A huge amount of metal products needs to be produced and delivered along the entire stretch of the border," he said.
"By mid-September [2021], we will carry out preparatory planning works, will lay out the structure of the whole project implementation, and, in parallel, we will also aim to start the first works on the most important sections near Druskininkai," Zukas added.
He said Epso-G, the parent company, will be in charge of the project.
"We will organise procurement procedures in such a way that we can involve not only our subsidiaries but also business companies active not only in the Lithuanian market," Zukas said.
Epso-G's planned contract with the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) will be the main document regulating the project.
Lithuania has decided to build a border fence after a migration influx it says is being orchestrated by the Belarusian regime.
Over 4,100 irregular migrants, mostly from Iraq, have crossed into Lithuania from Belarus so far this year, compared to 81 in all of 2020.
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