Livigno proposes reservoir wall that could cut Swiss power output

The Italian municipality of Livigno wants to divide the Lago di Livigno reservoir with a 500-metre-long, 24-metre-high wall, a plan that could reduce electricity production in Switzerland, SRF reported.

The reservoir has supplied Switzerland with electricity for decades. Although it lies in Italy’s Sondrio province near the Swiss border, the Engadin power company (EKW) built its dam in 1968 and still operates the power station. An international agreement between Switzerland and Italy, signed in 1967, gives EKW the water rights.

The reservoir’s water level fluctuates sharply because of the dam. Livigno is particularly affected: for only a few weeks each year, the village has a shoreline nearby. For much of the year, broad expanses of sand and exposed lakebed define the landscape.

The municipality hopes a second wall in the reservoir would limit those fluctuations and make a lakeshore accessible throughout the year. But EKW director Giacum Krüger said the project would likely cause losses in electricity production, with no benefits for the company. He said EKW would examine the proposal in more detail before taking a final position.

Livigno Mayor Remo Galli said the municipality wants to make its wishes for the future clear to Switzerland ahead of the renewal of the concession agreements in 2043, so its interests can be better reflected. EKW said it does not want to alienate Italy or Livigno before negotiations on new agreements.