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The final stretch for Compostilla II
Sequence of the demolition of the Compostilla Thermal Power Plant chimneys.
It's early on a cold winter morning in Cubillos del Sil (León). The moderate north wind makes the wind chill plummet on the road by the Bárcena reservoir, where Cubillos merges with Ponferrada, and which today, 12 February 2026, is closed off as part of the security perimeter for the final blast in the dismantling of the Compostilla II coal power plant. That colossal symbol of El Bierzo, that relic of a time when power generation sprang from the ground, from the seams of coal torn from the depths of the earth, and which CO2 emissions ended up forcing out of the market.
More than 1,000 kilos of explosives will bring down two chimneys a few hours later, each measuring 270 and 290 metres high, alongside a huge hopper building. Three iconic structures in a single operation lasting just a few seconds; a giant leap forward in the works in the blink of an eye. A true engineering challenge, which, like other sectors, strives every day to make processes safer and more efficient, doing more with maximum safety and minimum effort possible.
Chimneys of the Compostilla Thermal Power Plant.
It is the final stretch to complete the dismantling of the plant, which is over 90% complete and will be practically finished by the end of the year. The site will return to its original state. It seems strange to imagine it all at ground level, as the slender chimneys of the plant looked like an eternal backdrop etched into the sky.
The Civil Guard and Civil Protection reinforce the control measures so that the onlookers beginning to appear respect the limits of the safety zone. Cameras crowd together at the points with the best perspective. Everyone wants to immortalise a small piece of El Bierzo's history, of that farewell to fossil fuels to follow the path towards renewable production and energy independence. Wind, water, and sun: pillars for achieving decarbonisation, competitive prices, and attracting new opportunities in the reindustrialisation of Europe.
The top of the Compostilla Thermal Power Plant chimney moments before hitting the ground after its demolition.
The moment approaches. The warning siren that precedes the explosion. A sudden roar and then a thick plume of smoke that envelops everything. The gentle drizzle and the breeze that has been gathering strength throughout the morning take care of dispersing it. Suddenly, a battalion of concrete weighing thousands of tonnes lies waiting to be recycled, waiting for the circular economy to grant them a second chance. A different future also yearned for by those who quietly make their way away from the road that hugs the Bárcena reservoir.