Power-plant IM Cooling Tower, Charleroi, Belgium, April 2018

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HughieD

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1. The History
Power Plant IM was originally built in 1921 in the Monceau-sur-Sambre neighbourhood of Charleroi. After its completion it was one of the largest coal burning power plants in Belgium. Water was let into the cooling tower where it would be cooled by the wind that swept in from portals in the base of the tower, releasing billowing columns of hot air. By 1977 the power plant and its massive tower was the main source of energy for the Charleroi area and is said to have been able to cool 480,000 gallons of water per minute.

By the 1970s new components were even added to the power-plant that could also use gas power. However, the power-plant’s days were numbered. After years of service, a report found that Power Plant IM was responsible for around 10% of the total CO2 emissions in Belgium. Due to this, protests from Greenpeace in 2006 gave the power plant major negative attention and it closed a year later in 2007. After it was closed down, there were reports of looting by metal scrappers. The power plant still lies abandoned, and is said to be scheduled for demolition, but until that time it continues to stand as a popular location for urban explorers.

2. The Explore
This place is responsible for the most epic urbex pictures ever. Set off to the place and drove down the long pot-holed road that leads to the plant. Parked up and walked down to the cooling tower and wandered in as the gate was open. Sadly the magic door was locked. Sneaked under and into the base of the cooling tower but sadly could get up to the second level. Hey ho that’s the way things go sometimes. Saw some groups scaling the pipe-bridge and crossing the Sambe river on the service walk-way to look at the power-plant itself. Was a bit pushed for time so decided to give it a miss.

3. The Pictures

Here’s the cooling tower:

41515329061_df648f9a64_b.jpgimg6781 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644846858_a312473b4b_b.jpgimg6772 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644848408_afd0f98109_b.jpgimg6771 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Locked! Bugger…

40802521214_833b65d2f3_b.jpgimg6770 by HughieDW, on Flickr

On to the base then:

41515323121_3cccde1a72_b.jpgimg6785 by HughieDW, on Flickr

..and under we go:

27644842778_8bc1bae526_b.jpgimg6776 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And we’re in:

39706760000_8faf7275bc_b.jpgimg6751 by HughieDW, on Flickr

39706762390_840acbd339_b.jpgimg6747bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515342811_43da0eb020_b.jpgimg6763 by HughieDW, on Flickr

At the bottom looking up:

27644856118_4c2516338b_b.jpgimg6764 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644860448_3028b2d568_b.jpgimg6759 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644861708_bc3c78d184_b.jpgimg6757bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

Loadsa wood!

41515332751_f1fa9fbcc6_b.jpgimg6774 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Over the river is the power-plant:

41515330231_c704d326d9_b.jpgimg6779 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515327891_5343662429_b.jpgimg6782 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515326571_502b28a582_b.jpgimg6783 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515316461_df1d33e550_b.jpgimg6797 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And other stuff in the area:

40622238245_e32c73048b_b.jpgimg6786 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515319121_db58fac51d_b.jpgimg6789 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622230325_b027499b2b_b.jpgimg6790 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622228585_a6b50afc96_b.jpgimg6791 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622226215_ff4cbf4e4d_b.jpgimg6796 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644806948_05bbd72b65_b.jpgimg6798 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Including this old house:

40622236675_0da7271764_b.jpgimg6787 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622234755_4c2ee70e0a_b.jpgimg6788 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
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Nice shots of the cooling tower - quite surprised that the power station is still there, do you know if it's stripped out now?
 
Brilliant HD!!! This has got to be one of my favourite cooling towers with its unusual starlike design, you can't help loving it!! Thanks HD!!
 
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