Power station demolition to commence

ScottishPower has outlined the timetable for demolition works at Methil Power Station in Fife, following the appointment of Brown and Mason as the principal contractor for the job.

The energy company has recently completed preparation works at the site. The removal of the main buildings and the chimney will commence this month, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

Located on the southern side of the mouth of the River Leven, Methil Power Station was a 60MW coal slurry-fired station. It became operational in 1965 and was one of only a few stations in the UK designed to run on ’waste coal’.

The waste coal, also known as ’washings’, was transported to the station by road and rail from surrounding coalfields. In 2000, Methil stopped electricity generation but was kept as part of ScottishPower’s strategic reserve.

The station is situated on land owned by Forth Ports. ScottishPower’s lease of the land ends in 2012, when it will be returned to Forth Ports, which will determine its future use.

Dylan Hughes, project manager at ScottishPower, said: ’The aim of our work is to remove all of the buildings and structures associated with the power station and to leave the land in good condition so there will be future development opportunities when it is returned to the landowner Forth Ports.’