Germany demolishes two nuclear cooling towers in controlled explosion VIDEO

Two cooling towers of the former nuclear power plant in Gundremmingen, Bavaria, were brought down in a controlled demolition on October 25, marking a significant step in Germany’s nuclear phaseout. 

The towers, equivalent to roughly 56,000 tonnes of concrete, collapsed in seconds during the midday operation, per Euronews.

The Gundremmingen plant had been a landmark in the town for nearly six decades, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. Along with the Brokdorf and Grohnde nuclear plants, it was decommissioned in December 2021 as part of Germany’s energy transition policy.

Thousands of residents gathered to witness the demolition, with the municipality setting up a restricted zone for safety. Energy company RWE noted that the event could be observed from multiple vantage points across the region, and some local pubs even hosted public “demolition viewing parties.”

The demolition involved three explosions: the first to clear wildlife from the area, the second to bring down the first tower, and the third to collapse the second.

Following the removal of the towers, the dismantling of the plant will continue, with completion expected by 2040, according to local media reports.

By Khagan Isayev