Svalbard Global Seed Vault: First blast

Today the first tunnelling blast for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was carried out.

The construction process, with preparations for excavation, started immediately after Easter, and the vault will be completed in September this year.   

• Description of the facility

Today the first tunnelling blast for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was carried out. Photo: Mari Tefre, Global Trust Diversity. Picture in a larger format, see Picture archive.

Two separate storage vaults
The facility will consist of two separate storage vaults with an entrance building and access tunnel. - It is the excavation of the access tunnel which is now in progress, says Statsbygg's project manager Magnus Bredeli Tveiten. - So far the process is going according to schedule, and the building site reports of no specific problems, he continues.

By means of separate, electrically powered machinery powered from the local power grid, the vault will maintain a constant internal temperature of minus 18 degrees centigrade when completed. The vault will contain storage shelving for pre-packed specimens of agricultural seeds from the depositing countries.

Permafrost
- Svalbard was chosen because of the permafrost conditions, which will enable the seeds to be kept frozen for an extended period of time, even if the power supply to the facility should fail for any reason, Bredeli Tveiten concludes.

Contact:
Mr. Magnus Bredeli Tveiten, Project manager, Tel: + 47 22 95 42 22, E-mail: matv@statsbygg.no