The BERNARD Gruppe is active in the field of infrastructure in Mongolia, contributing its international project experience. Currently, in the city of Darkhan, the third-largest urban centre in the country with more than 70,000 inhabitants, we are supporting the comprehensive renewal of the local drinking water supply system.
Within the scope of this international project, the BERNARD Gruppe is responsible for the technical construction supervision and thus contributes to the sustainable improvement of the supply infrastructure. Specifically, the project involves the renewal of 13.3 kilometres of drinking water pipelines using Austrian ductile iron pipe technology from TRM. These particularly robust pipe systems are ideally suited to the harsh climatic conditions of the region, especially the extremely cold winters with temperatures of up to −30 °C. In addition, 15,000 digital water meters are being installed, which will ensure transparent and fair consumption recording in the future.
Implementation of the project began in autumn 2023 and is designed for a duration of 24 months. The transport of materials along the more than 6,000-kilometre route of the Trans-Siberian Railway represented a logistical challenge, as did customs-related issues during import into Mongolia. Further difficulties arose from construction interruptions caused by climatic conditions during the long winter months.
Another key topic was the introduction of international safety standards on the construction site. These measures were particularly demanding not only from an organisational and cultural perspective, but were also necessary in order to ensure health and safety for all parties involved in the long term.
Despite all challenges, the successes achieved so far have been made possible above all by the close and open cooperation of all project partners. Regular video conferences, on-site training sessions and a study trip by Mongolian specialists to Austria ensured efficient knowledge transfer and a high level of identification with the project.
BERNARD will remain active even after construction is completed: for a further three years, we will provide follow-up support and system monitoring, with the aim of further expanding our engagement in Mongolia.
Martin Kraft-Fish, BERNARD Gruppe
