Israel Takes Down First Tall Smokestacks at 1960s-Era Oil-Fired Plant
In a first of a kind operation in Israel, two 80-meter-high smokestacks at a Haifa power plant built in the 1960s have been dismantled by utilty Israel Electric Corp.
The facility was replaced by a $750-million combined cycle plant supplied by Siemans that came on line last year. Its two units are 370 MW each.
The oil-burning smokestacks at the original 140-MW Haifa Power Station were, for decades, among the most visible landmarks in the skyline of the northern Israeli port city. The facility was built with reparations from the German government.
Tel Aviv-based B&Z Ltd, which specializes in demolition projects, was in charge of the complex operation. “The operation to dismantle the 80-meter-high reinforced concrete smokestacks took four months and was conducted in stages,” says Ron Weiss, IEC senior vice president of the Engineering Project Division.
The regional planning commission required the dismantling of the smokestacks as a condition for building the new plant. “To prevent damage to the environment and to the workers at the site. a crane was used along with crushing equipment,” Weiss said.
The crushed concrete was then removed from the site and recycled.
The new gas-fired plant is part of Israel Electric's fuel-switching push. The utility now generates 50% of power at gas-fired facilities compared to only 15% in 2012.
