Intro
Probably not the best write up nor are these the greatest images but hopefully they are acceptable.
Anyway, onwards!
The history
Probably not the best write up nor are these the greatest images but hopefully they are acceptable.
Anyway, onwards!
The history
The site can be traced back to 1865 when the port of Piombino was first industrialized by Alfred Novel with the establishment of the first steel works. The works used a process known as the Bessemer Process this was one of the earliest low cost methods with high production to produce steel made from raw pig iron, by oxidizing the molten iron by forcing air through it which also helped keep it in a molten state.
From this point research got a little bit difficult not to mention that all the sources had to be fed through google translate an that there were several steel plants on the same port and limited history. But here's what I could gather.
The port in which the steel works was based along grew massively within the 1860's and 70's upon the arrival of two steel works which ultimately created a growth of the local town and the port itself. The steel works we are interested in was constructed in 1865, as mentioned above, known as the "Officine Perseveranza" apparently. The works continued operation until the second world war and the battle of Piombino during the following years saw the plant expand at a greater rate.
The 1970's and 80's saw the works expand development into production of different steel products along side the rail and wire already produced.
Around 2014 the blast furnace was shut down and a 30 day timeframe was given to save the works from total closure and shortly after it closed. The site is now operated by JSW Steel but the former buildings are mostly set for demolition. The power station in this report has clearly been closed a lot longer but no idea when or why.
Sources (https://www.viktormacha.com/galerie/iron-and-steel-11/ https://lucchinirs.com/about-us/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_industry_in_Italy as well as some other places.)
The Visit
Summer was in full swing and whilst in a foreign land vacationing it would be rude not to do a excursion to some derelict parts of the land. After peeling myself out from the car, swollen from mosquito bites, the humor of exploring in shorts began. Not wanting to risk an encounter with security which we had no way of communicating with, our visit was limited to no more than an hour or so as well as having other things to see. Things went smoothly watching the sun rise from within creating an array of colors inside through the faded windows.
Boilers and pipe work.
Rotating over to the turbine hall ahead.
Pipes heading underground.
Side note, the water mark looks like it's actually painted on the barrel to the left. Nice.
Right, now the turbines from the ground floor.
Most turbines were created by different manufacturers.
Looking towards the boilers.
The sun entering the structure.
The colors in here were astonishing.
Control Panels and Turbine.
Numerous ground floor control and switch panels
Parts room.
View attachment
A rather disused control room.
The turbines from above.
Back on the ground floor looking closer at the details of some turbines.
Anyway, that's all I have.
Summer was in full swing and whilst in a foreign land vacationing it would be rude not to do a excursion to some derelict parts of the land. After peeling myself out from the car, swollen from mosquito bites, the humor of exploring in shorts began. Not wanting to risk an encounter with security which we had no way of communicating with, our visit was limited to no more than an hour or so as well as having other things to see. Things went smoothly watching the sun rise from within creating an array of colors inside through the faded windows.
Boilers and pipe work.
Rotating over to the turbine hall ahead.
Pipes heading underground.
Side note, the water mark looks like it's actually painted on the barrel to the left. Nice.
Right, now the turbines from the ground floor.
Most turbines were created by different manufacturers.
Looking towards the boilers.
The sun entering the structure.
The colors in here were astonishing.
Control Panels and Turbine.
Numerous ground floor control and switch panels
Parts room.
View attachment
A rather disused control room.
The turbines from above.
Back on the ground floor looking closer at the details of some turbines.
Anyway, that's all I have.
