After 110 years since its construction, the former power plant is disappearing from Oslavany

Oslavany – The former thermal power plant in Oslavany in the Brno region is collapsing after 110 years since the start of construction. The company Remami, which has owned the properties associated with the former power plant on more than 70,000 m² since 2019, has begun demolition and plans to revitalize the site afterwards. Marian Michlíček, the company's managing director, told ČTK.

The operation of the power plant ceased in the 1990s, and since then the building, which employed up to 450 people at its peak, has deteriorated. The company's intention was primarily to unblock the legal status that did not allow for further use of the area. There were many liens, executions, and insolvency proceedings tied to the properties.

"Even before the sale of the properties at public auctions, demolition orders had been issued for some buildings. At the same time, we knew that there were old ecological burdens in the area that would need to be removed. However, at that time, we were not aware of the detailed condition of the buildings and we assumed that we could at least preserve the old brick main building. Unfortunately, after a detailed survey and in connection with the necessary work inside the buildings to remove ecological burdens, it was decided to demolish them to the current extent," Michlíček stated.

The demolition of buildings with an already issued demolition order and the work on removing ecological damage, such as soil contamination and groundwater contamination with petroleum substances, began last year. At the beginning of this year, smaller structures were brought down, and the demolition crew is currently working on the main buildings, which is expected to last until around the turn of June and July. The ecological burdens are also set to be removed this year.

What will be created on the site in the future is still unclear. "We have not yet finalized the exact usage. We are in talks with several potential partners with whom we are working on several options for use, whether for light manufacturing or storage or trade. We believe that our activity will definitely bring a new use for this space to the satisfaction of the residents of Oslavany and the surrounding area," Michlíček added.

The mayor of the town, Vít Aldorf, welcomes the demolition of the buildings and the removal of old ecological burdens. "I perceive this as the end of a decade-long agony of the space and the decay of these buildings. It is true that when demolishing some completely original buildings, one’s heart bleeds a bit over the loss of historical beauty. Unfortunately, their condition is so terrible that the current owner has no choice. It is a significant turning point in the fate of our town, a period mark after a long, both glorious and infamous history," the mayor told ČTK.