Enemalta Corporation – the state-owned energy utility giant responsible for generating and providing electricity to the Maltese islands – has begun planning for the future.

Specialist UK-based engineering consultancy RVA Group has supported Enemalta in its review and assessment of two existing power stations – Marsa (MPS) and Delimara (DPS) – as part of the company’s strategy to update their electricity generation technology.

Specialist engineering consultancy RVA Group was appointed by EDP, one of Europe’s major energy operators, to provide project management assistance and technical advice during their vast demolition and site clearance project in Portugal.

As the UK’s leading expert in large scale decommissioning, decontamination, dismantling and demolition projects, RVA supported EDP throughout the decommissioning and demolition of its 7-hectare power plant in Barreiro, Portugal.

Initially, RVA already helped EDP prepare a detailed project specification and tender documentation, before playing a key role in the contractor selection programme.

Following the appointment of a contractor, RVA was available to work with EDP, providing specialist project management support and technical advice as required throughout the programme of works.

Seeking the advice of a specialist engineering consultancy can reveal previously unconsidered opportunities and considerable cost benefits, as INEOS ChlorVinyls found after appointing RVA Group to manage large-scale UK decommissioning projects in Barry and Runcorn.

INEOS ChlorVinyls – Europe’s largest polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturer – engaged sector-specific CDM coordinators and project managers RVA Group, to oversee the safe execution of these two major projects and ensure the maximisation of income from the resale of redundant plant and metallic arisings including high-value exotic alloys.

A redundant 17-storey tower block in Scotland has been successfully brought down by the controlled use of explosives, under the watchful eye of specialist consulting engineers RVA Group.

It was evident that demolition of the 6,500 tonne concrete and brick structure required meticulous planning and robust scientific methodology, but the close proximity of an electric Network Rail commuter line – the boundary of which sat just 3 metres from Octavia Court – posed an added challenge. It was essential to protect the rail infrastructure during the demolition, whilst ensuring disruption to rail services was kept to an absolute minimum.

The exact science of implosive demolition by far posed the safest and fastest methodology for demolishing the 50m high structure. Not only would the alternatives of mechanical demolition or floor by floor dismantling have increased the possibility of debris falling onto the railway line, but a longer demolition period would have heightened the potential risk for project workers and the community. Furthermore, the controlled use of explosives meant that only one railway line possession would be required, and if the blowdown took place at night, disruption to commuter services would be minimal.

Following a six month on-site preparation period, Octavia Court was demolished in less than 10 seconds. The tower successfully fell as designed, and as there was no debris on the line whatsoever, Network Rail’s assets remained intact.

Client River Clyde Homes now has a great footprint of land upon which to create modern family housing for up to 56 people.

A major project to decommission one of Europe's largest former pipe manufacturing plants was carried out at no cost to its owner thanks to RVA's specialist industry knowledge.

Saint-Gobain PAM UK had initially thought the cost to deplant the former Central Melting Plant (CMP) and adjacent Hallam Plant in Ilkeston would be too excessive. However RVA was appointed to conduct a series of in-depth feasibility studies to investigate the different solutions available.

RVA's bespoke evaluations provided a completely new perspective for the client. It was concluded that the safest and most financially gainful solution was completeclearance of the site, which would not only be self-funding but it stood to generate a positive return.

Consequently RVA devised a best-value contractor works specification and played an integral part in appointing a demolition team to carry out the nine month decommissioning project. RVA continued its role as project manager and CDM coordinator for the duration of the works.

RVA brought a complex three year programme of decommissioning, isolation, demolition and ground remediation works at GrowHow's Severnside site to a close, following the final meticulous dismantling of two LCA plants.

RVA had already successfully supervised more than 60,000 man hours during the initial clearance phase on the 100 acre site. The concluding scope of work required RVA to oversee the coding, extracting, dismantling, preservation and removal of 4,500 tonnes of remaining ammonia production plant, bought for resale by American assets company Sigma Investment Holdings L.L.C.

Engaged in a project management capacity by GrowHow, and employed as CDM coordinators by Sigma, RVA ensured high standards of safety, precision and communication were maintained throughout the preparation and execution stages of this complex disassembly.

When Bayer CropScience decided to close its 40 acre Widnes site, RVA was called upon to provide independent advice, project management expertise, contractor selection assistanceand CDM co-ordination.

The sequence of works was phased so that decommissioning, dismantling and demolition of Bayer CropScience's PZ (prochloraz) plant could be carried out safely whilst Bayer maintained production on the other half of the site – its EF (ethofumesate) plant.

As part of the ensuing clearance of the EF plant, RVA stipulated that the contractor devise detailed method statements for the careful retrieval of process plant and pressure vessels weighing up to 15 tonnes. This high-value equipment had to be salvaged without damage for reinstallation at a Bayer site elsewhere in the country.

When premier fertiliser manufacturer GrowHow UK announced the decision to close its 100-acre Severnside plant, RVA was charged with managing, supervising and regulating the decommissioning and clearance of fertiliser production facilities, utilities equipment, laboratories and office buildings over nine separate locations within the site.

Traditional dismantling techniques were complemented by the controlled use of explosives to bring down the 100 metre tall Prill Manufacturing Tower, which once produced ammonium nitrate fertiliser pellets.

Prior to blowdown, samples were taken from the tower to assess levels of contamination; ammonium nitrate experts were engaged to assist in the decontamination; RVA led hazard study workshops to promote collaborative understanding and the RVA team also managed the contractor selection process to ensure required standards would be met.

During what was one of the largest UK industrial process plant demolition projects, RVA supervised more than 60,000 man-hours of plant decommissioning, isolation and demolition.

RVA was selected by this client to support them in the closure and clearance of this 70 year old site in readiness for future regeneration and development.

The site, which still held top tier COMAH status at the beginning of the project presented a number of challenges to the RVA team. Having had several owners over the years making varying products, a wide range of hazardous materials were identified and bringing the plant to a 'known status' was a significant task.

A number of structures including a 50m chimney, adjacent to the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal, were demolished using specialist techniques.

Following the closure of Saint-Gobain's Staveley Works in Derbyshire, a complex dismantling process was put underway to remove foundry buildings that have dominated the local skyline for 300 years.

The substantial project, included asbestos removal, deplanting, demolition and the clearance of 30 mixed and massive structures to leave the site in a safe and known condition, for return to its owner.

As part of the dismantling operation, RVA also devised a 'production line' salvage system to reclaim timber, plastic and scrap metal from the former cast iron foundry, fulfilling and underlining a corporate commitment to sustainability and the environment.

RVA Group has once again supported British Energy in its periodic reassessment of the assets and liabilities of its nuclear power plants, having been appointed to assess a range of structures within the 'non-controlled' areas of stations at Hartlepool, Heysham 1, Heysham 2 and Dungeness B.

The RVA team of five specialist consultants provided a range of knowledge and services including demolition engineering, estimating and work breakdown structure (WBS) compilation.

The complex four-month assignment was to build up decommissioning profiles for turbine halls, CW pump houses, and ancillary and administration buildings. The information will then be used to form schedules that will aid planning, programming and liability estimation for future decommissioning and associated clean-up work.

RVA's reports, will detail how, in what sequence and over what period of time the structures might be demolished, together with estimates of the resources required, protocols for disposal of scrap building materials and the costs involved for each structure.

Taking on its first assignment on the Shell owned Carrington site, RVA was engaged to provide a full suite of engineering and health and safety support services.

The presence of adjacent live plants, operated by other companies, common utilities and shared access, all added to the challenges of the project and the need to plan all activities carefully and maintain strong line of communication at all times.

Having managed the dismantling of external plant, including the flues and precipitators complete with removal of contaminated materials, some 10 years earlier, RVA was delighted to return to Marchwood as CDM-C for the demolition of the tipping hall, incinerator building and associated plant.

The work, which is part of redevelopment scheme, was phased to accommodate the operational needs of the client.

Providing services to this client for the first time, RVA was engaged as CDM-C, specialist engineer and project manger to oversee the complex and challenging task of selective removal of plant and equipment.

Working in both a high hazard and operational environment, careful planning and coordination, which included phasing the dismantling to accommodate utility isolation and re-routing, with the employer's staff, was a critical factor in delivering a safe outcome with minimum disruption to the ongoing business.

Following an industry trend, RVA was appointed by Smurfit Kappa Townsend Hook in Kent, to act as CDM-C and provide project management assistance, for a major dismantling exercise.

The sequential removal of paper machine PM1 was a challenging exercise for all involved. The intricate piecemeal operation had to be planned and managed to ensure that high safety and quality standards were maintained whilst at the same time allowing the client to receive best value throughout the process.

PM1 will start a new life in India, once reassembled.

Following a call for assistance from a Turkish oil and gas engineering company, RVA sent a team of engineers to Turkmenistan to assess options for the demolition of a redundant delayed coker unit at the country's main refinery. The work to be undertaken included the demolition of a number of complex massive structures and plant adjacent to a fully operational essential facility.

The project presented a number of significant challenges, not least of which was the need to develop safe, efficient and practical methodologies for completing the works using a limited selection of contractor's plant and without the specialist demolition tools now taken for granted in the UK and many other parts of the world.

It was an excellent opportunity for RVA to demonstrate a quick response, innovation and flexibility, to meet the needs of the client.

RVA was appointed by Ciba Speciality Chemicals as planning supervisor and specialist project engineer, to manage the deplanting and demolition of 60 principal buildings during the closure of an 18-hectare chemicals plant in Manchester, after nearly a century of dye manufacturing.

Controlled use of explosives was combined with traditional demolition techniques to demolish brick-built office blocks, the heavy steel-framed structures of specialist chemical process buildings and all associated pipework, cables, pipebridges, floorslabs, plant and equipment.

RVA was also responsible for ensuring that the cleared area was prepared to a rigid specification, allowing future site development to commence immediately on completion of the demolition project.

In addition to fulfilling its regular roles of specialist engineers and CDM-C, RVA also provided additional security to the site owners BPB, as advisers, when they sold a paper making machine and associated equipment for re-erection in the Ukraine.

It was RVA's duty to assess the competency and suitability of a number of organisations, including a workforce comprising in excess of 70 non-English speaking personnel, in order that EHS excellence was maintained throughout the process which included a significant number of large and complex lifting operations.

Members of the RVA engineering team were involved both at the donor site in Aberdeen and the new home of the plant in the Ukraine.

RVA has provided essential and value adding specialist support for the demolition of the four hyperbolic cooling towers at Calder Hall power station, Sellafield, Cumbria. The brief included a review of technical notes, progression of the work-scope methodology and on-site auditing during charging.

RVA explosives engineering personnel assisted the client during a complex and lengthy process of consultation with the contractor, stakeholders, NII and other interested parties

RVA supplied a full project support service for the decommissioning and exit from the Waunarlwydd site.

Adopting the roles of CDM Coordinator, project manager and engineer, RVA integrated fully into the client's team to assist in the production of decommissioning/isolation strategies, EHS documentation, commercial bid packages for plant dismantling/demolition and procurement processes.

In addition significant input was provided in investigating the options that will result in the optimum balance between structural demolition and deplanting being established, in order that maximum value will be achieved for both land and asset disposal.

RVA was appointed as planning supervisor and specialist project manager for the dismantling of the redundant Sheffield City Council municipal waste incinerator. The project included the removal of hazardous waste materials, the cleaning of plant and equipment prior to removal and the demolition of a number of out buildings and offices.

The contractor's site was particularly restricted due to the close proximity of the newly commissioned replacement plant, which had to remain operational and accessible around the clock. There was therefore a need to carefully plan and execute the works, which required a significant amount of dismantling, using heavy lift cranes.

RVA was retained by British Nuclear Group to provide specialist input for the demolition of the four cooling towers at Chapelcross power station in Dumfriesshire.

Services included support for explosives engineering matters as well as, drawing on the Group's experience of set piece management of high profile events by this method, stakeholder engagement, logistics and third party interface

RVA acted as specialist project managers, contract engineers and planning supervisors for the decontamination and demolition of the Melinex 2 plant at the former ICI site, Dumfries.

The project comprised a significant asbestos removal exercise followed by the dismantling and demolition of chemical process plant, film making machines and buildings.

Acting as both project engineers and planning supervisors, RVA was appointed by Sanofi Aventis to manage a major site rationalisation and decommissioning scheme.

The works at the Dagenham site comprised several packages including the decontamination and dismantling of redundant process plant and the demolition of large buildings. The12 month assignment followed RVA's previous contracts with this client undertaken in 2002.

The project management for decommissioning of a world scale polyester resin manufacturing facility at the Wilton chemical site was a challenging task. Located within a high hazard environment and bounded on all sides by operational plant RVA provided resident engineering and planning supervisor support.

The brief included the compilation and execution of robust isolation and decommissioning strategies prior to demolition

The high hazard COMAH surfactants site required careful preparation work and decommissioning in readiness for demolition and site clearance.

Working closely together, RVA and the Huntsman team developed a site strategy to ensure that all EHS issues were addressed and the client's requirements were met at all times.

RVA was appointed to prepare a number of Base Line Decommissioning Plans for selected stations within the client's fleet. The work centred around the liabilities review for the non-controlled areas and included the assessment of demolition methodology, costing and programme.

Detailed reports were produced in a number of formats, which incorporated in-depth planning using Primavera P3e software.

The Blackend plant complex, completed in the late 70s produced titanium dioxide pigment for use mainly in the paint and plastics sectors has been decommissioned over the last few years.

RVA's brief included the provision of specialist project management and planning supervisor support for the progressive dismantling of the plant and buildings within a potentially high hazard, operational environment.

To remove the No.1 Stabiliser Train from within a live refinery environment necessitated careful pre-works planning and the extensive use of cold cutting techniques combined with heavy craneage.

Having been contracted by Walsall MBC to act as planning supervisors and project managers, RVA continued to support Walsall Housing Group in their programme to remove redundant high rise residential blocks.

Methods have included floor by floor and mechanical demolition techniques.

Due to the restricted location of the block, with houses, schools and office buildings nearby, RVA invited a select list of companies to tender for the demolition by the controlled use of explosives.

RVA was engaged in the roles of consulting engineer and planning supervisor to project manage the demolition of a number of redundant production buildings and plant on the Norwich site.

The main building was of unusual construction and due to its age, no drawings or details were available. The project was an interesting engineering exercise, undertaken in the midst of an operational site.

RVA prepared a site options study to permit the client to make informed and balanced decisions about the future of the site.

The study considered a number of alternatives and commented on their advantages and disadvantages.

As a consequence of the closure of their plant in Wales, the Newton Aycliffe site was to be taken out of commission and demolished.

RVA was appointed to provide a total project management and planning supervisor service.

Following the decision to cease the extraction of bromine from sea water, RVA was appointed to lead the client's team through a safe and thorough decommissioning programme.

The brief also extended to the provision of a site option study and associated budget costings.

The final part of this massive project was the demolition of 3 ten storey flats in a newly completed development.

RVA was engaged to compare and evaluate the method options of dismantling versus explosives.

Following consideration of RVA's site options and feasibility study, the client selected a way forward and extended the RVA brief to assist in plant decommissioning operations and preparation for dismantling.

Following the transfer of the housing stock from the local authority, RVA continued to act as planning supervisor and engineer on several projects.

Demolition methods included floor by floor dismantling and use of a long-reach excavator.

Over a period of more than 12 years RVA has worked with this client in the execution of a long term programme of multi storey clearance by the use of explosives.

Resulting from a housing needs review, the client opted to demolish 8 blocks in the Borough on 3 different sites.

RVA undertook an options review study resulting in 6 of the blocks being demolished by explosives and the remainder using floor by floor dismantling methods

As a part of a massive site expansion plan, the client demolished a coal fired station following the commissioning of a purpose built CHP.

The work - which included demolition of boiler houses and a turbine hall adjoining operational buildings - was extremely challenging.

As a result of an accident leading to the death of two workers, RVA was appointed to act as planning supervisor to oversee the careful and documented dismantling of the steel flue for forensic purposes.

RVA worked closely with the client, Health & Safety Executive and other legal entities to complete the difficult project.

RVA supported BNFL throughout the UK in the compilation of Baseline Decommissioning Plans for their power production and other installations.

Having taken over the legacy of Olefines 5, which had been out of service for over 20 years, the client commissioned RVA to provide a feasibility study and option appraisal for the plant.

The study encompassed topics including immediate and longer term safety considerations, sanction grade costings, care and maintenance budgets, giving a flexible management tool on which the Huntsman board could formulate its future plans.

Following the findings of a structural survey it was found that the three tower blocks were in need of major works to ensure their suitability for long-term use. A decision was made to demolish the structures by the use of explosives.

The project was particularly challenging due to the sensitive location above a live rail tunnel.

Once the decision had been taken by Basell to close their installation at Wilton, maximising safety whilst minimising environmental impact and cost were main driving factors.

Following a comprehensive decontamination and cleaning regime, some of the main structures were demolished by the use of explosives, hence avoiding prolonged disruption on this busy site.

As a part of an overall site development scheme, Aventis Pharma engaged RVA to project manage the demolition of laboratory and research buildings, a batch production plant and warehousing.

Protection of the site infrastructure and security of on-going production were major issues on this site where prescribed drugs are manufactured. Several differing methods of demolition were used, mechanical, explosives and piecemeal to achieve a successful outcome.

RVA's role was to ensure that this top tier COMAH site was decommissioned safely and efficiently.

The plant which had initially been established in a relatively open area of Widnes had over the years become surrounded by residential and light industrial developments. A major consideration throughout the closure process was the protection of the environment and members of the public.