Saying goodbye to PowerGen

PowerGen’s four stacks before demolition at Flament Street, Port of Spain, before demolition began in 2016. - FILE PHOTO
PowerGen’s four stacks before demolition at Flament Street, Port of Spain, before demolition began in 2016. - FILE PHOTO

THE Port of Spain Power Station, easily recognisable by its four chimney stacks, stood at Flament Street, Port of Spain for 63 years before being decommissioned in January 2016.

Three of the four PowerGen stacks remain standing on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain in August 2021. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

At its peak, the former energy powerhouse consisted of two 50 MW (megawatt) steam turbines, two 80 MW General Electric steam turbines and two 24MW Rolls Royce gas turbines, which at its peak meant a total generation capacity of 308 MW.

Two PowerGen stacks in September 2021. - Photo by Roger Jacob

That capacity equates to about the amount of electricity consumed by 308,000 homes in a year.

AMCOWELD technicians work on the Powergen stacks on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain in 2021. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

Demolition of the landmark site began in August 2016, with each of the stacks being cut by blowtorches and removed by crane by PowerGen’s technical team employees and AMCOWELD.

Demolition of the PowerGen stack number 4 in August 2021. - Photo by Jeff K Mayers

The final PowerGen stack in August 2021 before it was demolished. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

The top of one of the PowerGen stacks sits nearby on Stone Street as one of the last remaining pieces of the iconic feature of the Port of Spain skyline.

The top of one of the PowerGen stacks on Stone Street, July 18, 2024.
The top of one of the PowerGen stacks on Stone Street on July 18, 2024. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

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