World Demolition Awards Shortlist - Industrial Demolition Award

Congratulations to the following companies who made the Industrial Demolition Award shortlist.

Industrial Demolition Award

Demolidora 

COUNTRY: Brazil

PROJECT: Demobilization of the Centralized Workshop

CLIENT: Vale - Metal Salobo

STATEMENT:

Photo: Demolidora 

The demolition services were carried out for all buildings, auxiliary structures, and devices comprising the Central Workshop Complex, located within the ZAS area of Salobo Metais S/A, in Marabá – PA.

The primary objective of the project was the complete dismantling of this facility.

The scope included the demolition of the Central Workshop, including reinforced concrete structures, foundations, and buildings; Tire Workshop; Warehouse; Truck Washing Station; Boiler Shop; Light Vehicle Workshop; Lubricants and Flammables Storage; and the Central Workshop locker rooms.

Additionally, demolition services were performed on the Bus Station flooring, uncovered yard (apron), and other flooring areas.

All activities were conducted in compliance with technical, environmental, and safety requirements, ensuring proper segregation, packaging, transportation, and disposal of generated waste, according to applicable standards and the client’s guidelines.

Despe

COUNTRY: Cyprus

PROJECT: Dismantling and associated works at Moni Power Station

CLIENT: EAC - Electricity Authority of Cyprus

STATEMENT:

Photo: Despe

The project involved the demolition of six 30 MW oil-fired steam units and all auxiliary equipment within the EAC power plant in Cyprus.

The work took place over a large and complex area, including asbestos abatement, closure of turbine cooling ducts and covering of contaminated areas.

Asbestos removal was one of the first activities, carried out in parallel with the demolition of external structures such as the electrical station, administration building and smoke ducts.

After the certified clean-up of certain areas, the main demolitions began: first the administration building, then the ducts, the boilers and the boiler itself.

These operations allowed excavators access to the turbine hall. A major challenge was the closure of the channels below sea level, which required solutions to manage the tidal water and in-depth analyses to identify the connections between the channels.

Once the demolition of the turbines was completed, the controlled demolition of six 40-metre high metal chimneys proceeded, monitoring vibrations to protect the nearby turbogas plants.

The success of the operation led the client to request an increase in the demolition rate. Finally, four 17,000-litre tanks were demolished with a special shear designed by Despe.

All activities were completed without incident, meeting safety and environmental standards, and demonstrating efficiency in the management of complex industrial projects.

Flesan

COUNTRY: Chile

PROJECT: Dismantling and Demolition of Dry Area – Quebrada Blanca, Iquique

CLIENT: EAC - Teck Quebrada Blanca Mining Company S.A.

STATEMENT:

Photo: Flesan

The project involves the dismantling and demolition of infrastructure associated with the production process of the Quebrada Blanca Mine (QB1) in Chile, specifically in the so-called “Dry Area,” which includes the primary crusher, stockpile, secondary and tertiary crushers, and conveyor belts No. 1 through No. 8.

The work is carried out with a strong commitment to occupational safety, minimizing environmental impact during execution, recycling materials, and ensuring proper final disposal.

Independence Demolition 

COUNTRY: US

PROJECT: Decommissioning, Demolition & Site Restoration of the Historic DTE Trenton Channel Power Plan

CLIENT: DTE Electric

STATEMENT:

Photo: Independence Demolition 

The retirement of DTE Electric’s century-old Trenton Channel Power Plant demanded the safe removal of two 600-ft stacks, twin boiler houses and a 650-ft turbine hall while a live 120-kV substation operated only 25 ft away.

Independence Demolition delivered Michigan’s most complex industrial demolition in 22 months—finishing on schedule.

Key feats included:

Zero OSHA-recordable injuries across 400,000+ man-hours involving explosives, asbestos, PCB soils and dredging.

Precision felling of 45,000-ton boiler houses and 600-ft stacks with peak vibrations of just 0.55 in/s—well below utility thresholds.

98.6 % material diversion, recycling 49,000 GT of scrap.

Advanced water stewardship: 340 million gallons treated to <5 mg/L TSS before Detroit River discharge.

Digital transparency: real-time dust, vibration and drone data shared live with regulators and residents.

The decommissioned site now supports a 220 MW / 880 MWh battery-storage facility—the largest in the Great Lakes—capable of powering 40,000 homes and propelling Michigan toward its 100 % clean-energy vision. The project sets a new benchmark for safety, environmental stewardship and engineering excellence in industrial demolition.

Veit

COUNTRY: US

PROJECT: NewRange Copper Nickel Concentrator Plant Demolition

CLIENT: NewRange Copper Nickel

STATEMENT:

Photo: Veit

At the former LTV Steel Mining site in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota — once home to the world’s largest concentrator — Veit led one of the most significant dismantling and recycling efforts in state history. Built in the 1950s and idle for decades, the 384,000-square-foot facility required meticulous planning to safely remove legacy process equipment and infrastructure in preparation for the NewRange Copper Nickel Project.

Veit removed major process equipment — including 67 rod and ball mills, 270 magnetic separators, 3 thickeners, and 36 feeder lines — along with steel structures, concrete foundations, and floors. Recycling was prioritized throughout:

*32,000 tons of steel salvaged — twice the amount used to build U.S. Bank Stadium.

*72,000 tons of ore repurposed as on-site access roads.

*65,500 tons of concrete crushed for future reuse.

The team completed complex selective demolition in the active superstructure, preserving the building’s integrity for future use.

The project commenced with interior abatement in May 2023, progressed to full-scale dismantlement by June, and was officially completed in 2025. Across 70,000+ labor hours, a team of 50 union craft workers completed all work without a single recordable or lost-time incident.

Veit partnered with a diverse group of international specialists at NewRange Copper Nickel, including engineers and operations directors with extensive experience in mining facilities, who traveled from across the globe to collaborate on this complex project.

By reclaiming materials and preparing the facility for future processing operations, this project exemplifies technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and lasting value to the region. It stands as one of the most significant salvage and recycling undertakings in Minnesota’s history and a cornerstone of Veit’s portfolio.