Another major steelworks plant on Teesside is set to be brought down in an explosive demolition this week, less than ten years after it was built.
The site, which acts as a reminder of Teesside’s thriving past in steelmaking, is set to be demolished at 9am on Wednesday (October 19).
The £37m Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) plant near the Redcar Blast Furnace was only built in 2013, and was designed to make steel production more efficient, reportedly paying for itself within a year.
Read more: PICTURES: The dramatic moment explosives bring down old North East steelworks plant
But the plant will meet its end this week when a controlled explosion brings it to the ground.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “As ever, being able to build at Teesworks and move forward with investors means we have to knock things down first and this is our next demolition to deliver.
“We’re on track to bring down all major former steelworks sites before the end of this year – and the terrific progress being made has seen us unlock hundreds of acres of land for development.
“This is one of the biggest, most complex and condensed demolition programmes to ever take place in the UK. But rest assured, this effort will be rewarded as thousands of good-quality, well-paid jobs in the cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future begin to rise from this rubble.”
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Efforts were made to sell the plant, including for parts, but it was ultimately decided that it would be demolished.
It comes after the BOS plant on Teesside was brought down in a dramatic explosion earlier this month (Saturday October 1).
The 65-metre building was levelled with about 1.6 tonnes of explosives.
The same local contractors Thompsons of Prudhoe, are behind the latest demolition due to take place this week.
At its height the PCI facility increased production from 8,500 tonnes per day to 10,500 tonnes, and worked by blowing finely powdered coal into the centre of the blast furnace, reducing the amount of coke it required.
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