Messer’s current projects include one situated below the Spanish city of Barcelona. A 4.8 km-long tunnel is being built here for the Spanish AVE high-speed train in order to link the Catalonian capital to the French border. Three kilometres of this tunnel are being dug directly underground by means of a tunnelling machine and Messer is responsible for supplying the gases needed to install, maintain and dismantle the mechanical excavator. Oxygen, acetylene and the inert welding gas Ferromix are used here. Construction of the tunnel is to be completed in two years.