INTERVIEW | PROF EIVIND GRØV


“Just recently, I read that there is an


idea to tunnel across the Persian Gulf, to connect Qatar to Iran. The distance is 190 kilometres. The idea of crossing the Bering Strait was raised by the Russians some fifteen years ago; that is of course today not very likely. A Japan-Korea tunnel has been proposed – that distance is about 130km. If China and Taiwan became friends there could be a tunnel connecting the two. Gibraltar could be connected to Morocco; there are many possibilities where these long tunnels can actually be a solution. That would be looking into the future when it comes to really using the underground. “I was in Jersey and Guernsey last


Spring [2024] and they were looking at the possibility of connecting those two islands, not with Britain but with each other and with France. Given the small populations of those places, even with tourism it would probably not be economically sensible.” But, then, who would have said that


tunnels connecting the Faroe Islands would be economically sensible? There are 18 of them in the North Atlantic, some 655km off the mainland coast of Northern Europe. Fewer than 60,000 people live on the islands. “I have been working with the Faroe


Islands for many years. They have now four subsea tunnels between them and we are planning a fifth one; and, when all these five subsea tunnels are built and are in use there will be a seamless connection amongst the islands. You will be able to drive from the south-western island to the north-eastern one in maybe a couple of hours. It used to take a couple of days. “So tunnels are playing a very vital role


in that environment – in its economy and in the quality of life there. The fact that tunnels are providing connection from island to island makes it viable and possible – and attractive – to actually live on those islands and even develop industries. Many of the large fishing industry firms in Norway operate from those islands and sub-sea road tunnels are a must. Connectivity is such an important term. And, what of tunnels for transporting


Top: Underground in Iceland at the Vadlaheidi road tunnel (Eivind was a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), together with Björn Stefansson (centre) and Alfred Schülter (right)). The excavation experienced hot water inflows on one side, and a collapse on the other. “Plentiful challenges but the tunnel became a reality” PHOTO COURTESY OF VEGAGERDIN


Above: Use of underground space for a food crop seed vault on Svalbard, Norway PHOTO COURTESY OF PROF EIVIND GRØV


38 | August 2025


water? “The fact is that water that is not fairly


distributed amongst us. There are places that have much too much of it and flood: Louisiana is one example, Bangkok another. There are places that need more water, for drinking and supplying cities. Tunnels could be a solution to that. Again it is about connectivity. The Romans did it on the grand


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