Endesa is moving forward with the dismantling of the Litoral thermal power plant through the controlled demolition of the first denitrification unit, Denox-2, which was responsible for reducing the NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions from the plant.
This steel structure consisted of 12 pillars and a 58-meter-high portal. It supported ducts and reactors covering a 1,250 m2 area, with a total weight of 2,800 tons—equivalent to seven Boeing 747 cargo planes.
To carry out the demolition, a total of 120 kg of explosives were used, activated by 74 electronic detonators distributed among the foundations, the structure itself, and the front pillars. The demolition, performed by UTE Lecalde—a joint venture of the Biscayan company Lezama Demoliciones, specialised in industrial dismantling, and the Almeria-based Caldererías Indálicas—generated around 2,500 tons of recyclable metal waste, which will now be managed in accordance with environmental regulations. More than 90% of the material obtained from the demolition is expected to be recycled.
Endesa is steadily progressing with the dismantling and demolition of this historic plant. Its work is now 56% complete, and over 140 professionals are currently working on-site, 65% of whom are from the Carboneras area, thanks to specialised training courses promoted by the company.
Recent milestones include the completion of concrete crushing from the chimney, the removal of insulation from the first floors of boiler unit 2, the demolition of the processing building for unit 2, insulation removal from equipment in the turbine hall, and the demolition of equipment on the ground floor of the turbine hall for unit 1.
About the power plant
The Litoral thermal power plant was constructed under the 1979 Accelerated Coal Power Plant Plan to meet the growing demand for electricity due to Spain’s economic development. The infrastructure occupied 1,788,547 m2 in the city of Carboneras and consisted of two generation units with a combined output of 1,159 MW. Each of these units was made up of a boiler, turbine, and generator as their essential components.
Unit 1, with a capacity of 577 MW, began commercial operations in 1985, while unit 2, with a capacity of 582 MW, became operational in 1997. Throughout its lifetime, the plant produced over 180,000 GWh, equivalent to Andalusia’s energy consumption for four and a half years and marked a milestone in 2014 following environmental upgrades that made it a leader in this technology globally.
The plant also features a port terminal with access for maritime traffic to the Mediterranean and North Africa. It began operations in 1985 after a €123 million investment for its construction, dedicated to unloading coal for the Litoral thermal power plant.
In 2014, after an agreement with the Port Authority of Almeria, an investment was made to equip the port terminal with a system that allows ships with capacities ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 tons to load coal destined for other Enel Group power plants in the Mediterranean, boosting fuel handling operations in the storage yard.
These features, along with its geographic location, make it a unique site for receiving deep-draft vessels from around the world. Since its construction, a total of 79,480,191 tons of solid bulk materials have been handled.
Additionally, the Litoral thermal power plant has hosted innovative projects such as a microalgae plant, the restoration of slag heaps with native species, and a battery storage project, among other initiatives.
These projects have since been relocated to continue their operations. For example, the microalgae plant remains on the plant's grounds but has expanded its space.