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Villages / Valais / Sierre district / Mottec

Mottec

Canton of Valais · District: Sierre · No published figure for the locality; the municipality of Anniviers has 2'784 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
Part of the municipality of Ayer
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Mottec

The name Mottec, also borne by the dam and the power station, remains unexplained.[7]

Founding of Mottec

Mottec, like Cuimey, is a hamlet of scattered houses in the former municipality of Ayer, in the Val d'Anniviers. How old this settlement is remains unknown. In the mid-20th century the Forces motrices de la Gougra built a hydroelectric power station and a compensation basin here. Ayer has been part of the municipality of Anniviers since the 2009 merger.[1][2][5]

History of Mottec

1950-1960. The building of the Forces motrices de la Gougra at Mottec and of the Moiry dam, together with the growth of Zinal, stabilises the exodus from Ayer.[1]

1952-1959. Construction of the Mottec power station and compensation basin.[2]

1956. The power station's three pumps date from this year. The 2018-2024 refurbishment left them untouched.[2]

1959. The power station goes into service (1958 according to another source).[2][3][8]

2017. On 16 January the building permit for the refurbishment of the power station is issued.[2]

2018-2024. The three generating units are replaced for about 35 million francs. Output rises from 69 to 87 MW.[2][3]

2019. On 13 February the federal investment contribution is decided. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy grants 5.4 million francs.[2][3]

2023. From July to November a solar installation is fitted on the power station roof.[2]

2025. On 26 May the modernised power station is inaugurated.[3][8]

Historic sites in Mottec

Mottec hydroelectric power station. Listed as a cultural property of regional importance (B object), Route de l'Usine. It supplies about 20% of the output of the Gougra complex. It turbines water from Lac de Moiry, about 600 metres higher, and its pumps send the water of the Navizence and the Tourtemagne back up there. It belongs to Forces Motrices de la Gougra SA, 54% owned by Alpiq.[2][3][4]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ayer » (Danielle Allet-Zwissig, version du 04.01.2017)
  2. Alpiq et Forces Motrices de la Gougra, « Réhabilitation de la centrale de Mottec » (brochure du projet RGM)
  3. La Télé, « Anniviers (VS) : modernisée, la centrale de Mottec a été inaugurée » (26.05.2025)
  4. Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du Valais (objets A et B, état au 1.1.2026)
  5. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Anniviers, val d' » (Danielle Allet-Zwissig, version du 13.03.2017)
  6. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  7. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
  8. Alpiq, « Mottec hydropower plant optimised for a sustainable energy future » (communiqué du 26.05.2025)

Other villages near Mottec

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