The state could have published the greenest calls for tender in its history for the two Berchem service station concessions, located on either side of the motorway between the capital and Dudelange, from May 2025 to May 2029. But it wasn't ready.
Faced with this political observation, made in mid-January by the Green party MP , the minister for the economy, SMEs, energy and tourism, (DP), agreed half-heartedly. In his reply to the MP on Monday, he pointed out that the coalition agreement provides for the development of "concepts aimed at gradually transforming conventional motorway service stations into multi-energy hubs". However, given that "the needs of future motorway customers remain uncertain, the relevant departments of the ministries are currently analysing the situation and studying the various options".
Without rushing into things, the minister emphasised that "Luxembourg has already achieved the objectives set for 2030" by the 2023 European regulation on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructures, in particular fast-charging stations and hydrogen refuelling stations along motorways.
"A new concession contract is an opportunity to implement improvements", insisted the MP, who nonetheless regrets the absence of precise obligations in terms of electric charging stations. The contract does, however, stipulate that the state may install such infrastructure without the agreement of the concessionaire, as well as photovoltaic panels on shaded areas. It also highlighted the lack of ambition in terms of sanitary infrastructure and the circular economy.
260 million litres of fuel per year for 25,000 customers per day
As for the car parks, the minister replied: "It would be feasible to install shaded areas with photovoltaic panels, and feasibility studies are being considered. The concession contract already provides for the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the facilities, in particular the fuel sales point, the shop and the restaurant."
For the Green party (Déi Gréng), "the Berchem service area, with its international users, is a showcase for Luxembourg's brand image. It underlines the importance of the quality and innovative nature of its services and infrastructure for our country."
According to the few statistics available, the Shell station (heading towards Luxembourg City) dispenses 260m litres of fuel a year to 25,000 customers a day - a record, if not worldwide, then at least in Europe. In the opposite direction, the Aral station (with traffic heading towards Dudelange) sees a million vehicles a year, 850,000 customers and 165,000 HGVs. Located at the heart of the daily flow of cross-border commuters and logistical movements between northern and southern Europe, these stations remain strategic - at least until tolls, carbon taxes and price trends change some of the traffic.
Interest in these concessions remains high: the two invitations to tender published in November, for which candidates had until 15 January to submit their bids - the date of Welfring's parliamentary question - resulted in four bids for the station with traffic heading towards Luxembourg City and three for the station towards the border with France.
Average of €10m per year per motorway station
Even with Shell forced to set aside €4.5m over two years to cover its clean-up obligations linked in part to the AdBlue leak in 2016, the business remains profitable. Once the €2.4m entry fee has been paid, the selected operator or operators will have to pay a three-part annual fee:
- a minimum of €0.02 per litre of fuel sold
- 7% of shop revenues
- 7% of restaurant revenues
excluding VAT in all three cases.
For the state, the total of seven service stations located on the grand duchy’s motorway network represents a financial windfall: they collectively bring in around €70m a year, or an average of €10m per motorway service station, compared with less than 1% of that amount spent on their upkeep.
The good news for taxpayers is that the photovoltaic panels installed by the concession holder at the start of the concession will eventually become the property of the state.
As soon as the bidding period closed, Q8 was already trumpeting the fact that it had won the two concessions - even though, according to the Ministry of Transport, the seven bids are still being examined.
"We will manage the two Berchem stations, installing a Panos outlet, a Delhaize Shop&Go and Starbucks vending machines. We will also be investing in making the buildings more attractive, installing solar panels and reinforcing security with surveillance cameras. Finally, we'll be carrying out a complete rebranding of the pumps, awnings and signage to provide a more modern and consistent look.”
These are the words of Q8's press office to the news site Virgule.
Read the original French-language version of this news report /