Cemento Molins will start the demolition of its old plant in Sant Vicenç del Horts, a project which is expected to take around 18 months.

The plant, which was built between 1965-1974, was replaced by a new works on an adjacent plot of land in 2010. Once the demolition is complete, it is possible that the owners will expand the current operational factory using the 19,000m2 area.

The project represents an investment of EUR2m. Sources at the company said there is no precedent in Catalonia for the disassembly of a plant as complex as this. The demolition work will be entrusted to Erri Berri and Altadill. it will allow the reuse of 25,000t of concrete.

In a first stage, which is expected to last for 14 weeks, the metal elements of the preheater, fuel supply systems and some clinker conveyors will be dismantled. The 11-week second stage will see the elimination of the silos next to the N-340 road, the demolition of obsolete buildings and the raw material feeding belt in the raw mills. The last phase, the longest at 53 weeks, will involve the dismantling of the raw material silos, preheater towers and the remaining buildings.