Demolition of the Chimney at the Bouchain Power Plant

Since mid-August, Cardem Grands Projets teams have been mobilized for the deconstruction of the chimney at the former Bouchain coal-fired power plant in northern France. This project is part of EDF’s broader infrastructure modernization program, supported by CI2T engineering.

The coal-fired plant, commissioned in 1970, ceased production in 2015. Since then, several deconstruction operations have been carried out: cleaning of the pumping station, dismantling of transformers, the fuel oil yard, the bucket wheel, coal conveyors, the handling tower, and now the chimney.

Cardem’s teams applied their expertise to dismantle the chimney—nicknamed the “Grande Dame”—which stands 125 meters tall. The operation was carried out using a “grignotage” (nibbling) technique with a robot suspended from a 650-ton crane, minimizing the risks associated with high-altitude work.

Meanwhile, the soot building, 34 meters high and weighing 300 tonnes per block, was toppled using the TACLES remote cutting system, developed and patented by Cardem with support from Actemium (VINCI Energies), ensuring reliability and safety.

In line with a circular economy approach, 96% of materials from the deconstruction were recycled through appropriate treatment channels, highlighting the teams’ commitment to an environmentally responsible project.