Germany demolishes cooling towers of Gundremmingen nuclear plant

RWE has completed the demolition of two cooling towers at the Gundremmingen nuclear power plant in Bavaria on 25 October, marking a key step in its decommissioning. 

Specialists from a German blasting firm carried out the operation using 600 kilograms of explosives in 1,800 boreholes. About 56,000 tonnes of debris will be processed into recycled gravel.

Around 30,000 people observed the blast, which was declared complete at 1.24 pm. Nearby buildings and high-voltage lines were unaffected. Plant Manager Heiko Ringel said the demolition followed months of preparation and close coordination with local authorities.

Gundremmingen’s two boiling water reactors, units B (1284 MWe) and C (1288 MWe), were shut down in 2017 and 2021. RWE contracted Westinghouse in 2021 to dismantle both units, with work expected to finish by 2030.