Hazard elimination successfully completed

Tank farm dismantling on the grounds of the former SUSTEC Schwarze Pumpe GmbH

From February 2011 to March 2012, complete recovery and disposal of tank contents and the tank dismantling took place on the grounds of the former SUSTEC Schwarze Pumpe GmbH. GICON was initially tasked with the sampling of tank contents, and subsequently with project management, planning and monitoring of measures for ensuring the removal of the hazardous substances.

The disposal of the accumulated hazardous wastes originating from the nine tanks, pipelines and other facilities placed very high demands on transport and disposal methods. A total of more than 20,000 tons of hazardous waste and 2,000 tons of scrap metal were properly disposed of.  Despite the challenging tasks, the entire hazard removal action at tank farm was successfully and safely accomplished in a period of approx. one year.

In the former East German Schwarze Pumpe gas plant, about 75 percent of the gas required in GDR was produced by lignite gasification until the revolution of 1989. After 1989, large parts of the plant was shut down and gradually dismantled. The residue from gasification, however, remained partially on site. In the mid-1990s, work began on converting the residue from the gasification of organic waste and other externally received wastes into methanol. These attempts failed, however, and came to an end with the bankruptcy of SUSTEC in late 2009.

At the beginning of the project in early 2010, a total of 9 tanks still containing hazardous substances were located on the grounds of SUSTEC Schwarze Pumpe GmbH, which, until their dismantling and removal, resulted in a continuing threat due to the flammable, explosive and pyrophoric properties of the ingredients.

A permanent means of nitrogen inertization of all fuel systems was needed to avert explosion hazards. The monitoring and continuous inertization of the tanks, however, was associated with considerable technical and financial expenses, so removal of the threat posed the tanks via complete dismantling and disposal was initiated.