The cement plant in Akranes, West Iceland, which began operating in 1958, is now being torn down, RÚV reports. The plant covers an area of 9 hectares (22 acres) in the town centre, which will be re-purposed in the coming years for housing and other projects.
The demolition of the structure began earlier this week. The project will be a complete overhaul of Akranes’ image. “After operation ended, I think the majority understood that people wanted something else in its place,” said Rakel Óskarsdóttir, chairperson of the Sementsreit task force.
The demolition of the plant is bittersweet for many of the town’s 7000 residents, some of whom have been tied to it for generations. Alfreð Alfreðsson’s father helped build the plant, and he is now working on its demolition. “Generally everyone believes [the plant] should go. It has deteriorated and I think everyone is in favour of it,” he states.
