Didcot Power Station
Didcot Power Station in Oxfordshire
On February 23rd, 2016, during demolition, four demolition workers sadly lost their lives. Our team at MTF Diamond Drilling and Controlled Demolition Ltd were involved in the latter stages of demolition, after the collapse. The boiler house was being prepared for controlled demolition when it collapsed, leaving the aftermath too unstable to be approached afterwards.
Our Role
In the weeks leading up to the demolition of the "unstable structure" in July, the team at MTF Diamond Drilling & Controlled Demolition collaborated with the Army, deploying remote-controlled robots to clear wreckage. They described the experience as being both strange and emotional, particularly because the site held a memorial, making the recovery operation deeply meaningful.
The recovery effort was paused in May upon reaching a 50-meter safety exclusion zone. The site owners, RWE, determined that the safest and fastest way to proceed was to demolish the remaining half of the boiler house.
MTF explained their involvement was due to their specialized infrared remote-controlled machines, known as Brokks, which are designed for rough terrain and can self-recover if stuck—unlike the Army's remote vehicles that would be lost if trapped.
Two Brokk machines, the 120 diesel and 330 models, valued at around £290,000 in total, were sent to the site with two operators. The team worked closely with Army personnel who guided them using cameras and earpieces, allowing the Brokk operators to navigate the site despite limited visibility.
The robots helped retrieve gas bottles, forensic evidence, and large generators. After clearing the debris, the Brokks were used to place magnetic charges around the boiler house, operated remotely from over 80 meters away for safety.
Our Work in Action
In Memory of the Four Victims
Due to their assistance, all teams involved in the final demolition of Didcot after the disaster, received memorial coins, which feature the names of all four victims on one side and "Alford" on the reverse. Alford collaborates with the military and government on innovative explosive solutions for a variety of applications.
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