Czech Prunéřov I power plant’s era symbolically ends with demolition of its 200-metre chimney

The demolition of a 200-metre-high reinforced-concrete chimney at 10:56 today symbolically brought to an end the 56-year era of the former lignite-fired Prunéřov I Power Plant near Kadaň in the Chomutov District. The plant ceased operations on 30 June 2020. The chimney was demolished in two sections, CTK observed at the site today.

Just before the demolition, the company checked that everything was ready and everyone was in position. Checks were also carried out after the demolition itself. Blasting supervisor Vladimír Pravda concluded that the demolition, which the contractor had been preparing for two days, had gone well. He said he had climbed the chimney countless times. „With that wind, it could have shifted, but we didn’t measure it,“ Pravda said, adding that he was used to working at heights.

The company prepared the explosives at 13:30 on Thursday. „Demolishing the chimney required 300 kilograms of dynamite-type explosives and 500 detonators,“ ČEZ Group spokesperson Ota Schnepp told CTK. „When the storms came, the first physical inspection took place at 23:23, and the second at 0:35,“ the spokesperson added. The chimney still had to be lit up at night; it was disconnected in the morning. The company also carried out several inspections on the chimney itself shortly before the demolition.