real time web analytics
Report - - Power-plant IM Cooling Tower, Charleroi, Belgium, April 2018 | European and International Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

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

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
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.jpg
img6781 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644846858_a312473b4b_b.jpg
img6772 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644848408_afd0f98109_b.jpg
img6771 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Locked! Bugger…

40802521214_833b65d2f3_b.jpg
img6770 by HughieDW, on Flickr

On to the base then:

41515323121_3cccde1a72_b.jpg
img6785 by HughieDW, on Flickr

..and under we go:

27644842778_8bc1bae526_b.jpg
img6776 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And we’re in:

39706760000_8faf7275bc_b.jpg
img6751 by HughieDW, on Flickr

39706762390_840acbd339_b.jpg
img6747bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515342811_43da0eb020_b.jpg
img6763 by HughieDW, on Flickr

At the bottom looking up:

27644856118_4c2516338b_b.jpg
img6764 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644860448_3028b2d568_b.jpg
img6759 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644861708_bc3c78d184_b.jpg
img6757bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

Loadsa wood!

41515332751_f1fa9fbcc6_b.jpg
img6774 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Over the river is the power-plant:

41515330231_c704d326d9_b.jpg
img6779 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515327891_5343662429_b.jpg
img6782 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515326571_502b28a582_b.jpg
img6783 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515316461_df1d33e550_b.jpg
img6797 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And other stuff in the area:

40622238245_e32c73048b_b.jpg
img6786 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41515319121_db58fac51d_b.jpg
img6789 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622230325_b027499b2b_b.jpg
img6790 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622228585_a6b50afc96_b.jpg
img6791 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622226215_ff4cbf4e4d_b.jpg
img6796 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27644806948_05bbd72b65_b.jpg
img6798 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Including this old house:

40622236675_0da7271764_b.jpg
img6787 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40622234755_4c2ee70e0a_b.jpg
img6788 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
Last edited:

host

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice report no doubt the most shot cooling tower ever. I remember we slept in the power plant years ago when it was still mint. Good times.
 

Olkka

Chillin at the structure
Regular User
Ayyy nice one Hughie. I'm gonna chuck some photos on the back of this if that's cool.

Also, I didn't even know what this place was called, let alone the history, great to hear a nice summary finally. 480,000 gallons of water, blimey. Amazing to think it's been standing for nearly 100 years now.

The cooling tower was what it was all about, I thought at least. Had never stood in one before. I took on the case of climbing up those slats to the, uh, mezzanine level (garms got fairly dusty). Went bezerk with my point-and-shoot's video mode once I hauled my ass up.... https://coub.com/view/171z41 . I found the pond at the bottom was very cinematic in particular. A lot of plant troughs with some flora still going was about the only other component in the scene.

DSC01165.JPG


I made the walk across the bridge too and power plant was ite. Not much graff considering how non guarded and open it was. Control room remnant was fully merked, and many of the upper floor levels were missing. Big tall boiler stacks to look in and some wide open atriums were a highlight. Most of my pics actually came out shit, power plants seem to really bite my arse for not having a DSLR, the point-and-shoot seems gets the job done much better in every other kinda building! Also that other pale blue/grey building to the left of it was derp central, incredibly dull. Only poked my head in for a few minutes to conclude that.

DSC01199.JPG


Cheeers
 
Top