Dialogue with stakeholders

The construction of Gornerli will have an impact on the landscape, the environment and tourism in particular. It is therefore essential to strike a balance between their protection and use of the water reservoir, while defining appropriate compensation measures. Within the Dialog Gornerli support group and as part of a participatory approach, the project managers maintain constant dialogue with representatives of various environmental and landscape protection organisations (WWF, Pro Natura, Aqua Viva, Mountain Wilderness, Swiss Foundation for Landscape Protection and Planning), the Swiss Fishing Federation, the Swiss Alpine Club and the Association of Mountain Guides of Zermatt, as well as the Municipality of Zermatt. Various cantonal services are also involved in this support group.

Working groups specific to different fields (analysis of variants, residual flows, ordinary and supplementary compensation measures, tourism) bring together a number of participants according to their skills and interests.

In view of the vital importance of the Gornerli multi-purpose reservoir for the municipalities, the Canton and Switzerland as a whole, an political support group bringing together representatives of the licensing municipalities, the Canton, the Confederation and Grande Dixence was set up in November 2024 with the aim of coordinating the progress of the project and ensuring that it complies with its objectives. This group enables the bodies, committees and authorities involved to work together closely and efficiently and provides a framework for a regular exchange of information.

For the Gornerli project, concession amendments will be added to the current Grande Dixence concessions. Like the current concessions, which will remain unchanged, they will be valid until the end of 2044. Alongside the concession amendments, the issue of compensation for the residual value when the concessions come to an end in 2044 will also be settled with the licensing authorities, i.e. the 20 licensing municipalities and the Canton. As the planned investments cannot be amortised during the remaining ten or so years that the concessions still have to run, compensation for the residual value must be agreed upon between the current owner, Grande Dixence, and the future owners (licensing municipalities and the Canton). In early 2024, the two parties agreed to create a working group to conduct these negotiations. In August 2025, the licensors organised themselves accordingly (Association des collectivités concédantes de la Grande Dixence, ACC GD) and finally formed in November 2025. The licensors are informed about the project and its development at regular meetings.

Regular information sessions are held with the people of Zermatt, who are those directly affected by the project. Meetings with the local population will also be held in the other licensing municipalities.
Do you also have questions or would you like more information? We look forward to receiving your email at info@grande-dixence.ch

Write to us at media@grande-dixence.ch