Work on dismantling Sudbury’s Superstack about to begin

Photos and videos taken by a Sudbury-based drone business show the start of the years-long process of dismantling the historic Superstack at Vale in Sudbury.

The 1,250-foot stack has been a fixture in the city’s skyline since 1972 and was a critical step in helping the region’s environment recover.

However, Vale’s $1-billion Clean AER Project led to the elimination of 100,000 metric tonnes of sulfur dioxide emissions each year (equivalent to 1,000 railway tanker cars of sulphuric acid), bringing emissions down to 30 per cent below the provincial standards.

That led the company to announce plans to dismantle the stack, a process that will take about five years.

An explanation of how the process will work can be found in this YouTube video. Photos and videos taken by Lacroix Drone Services show the beginning of the process.

Vale spokesperson Fernanda Trevisan said prep work is currently being done “at the top of the Superstack to reassemble the work platform.”

“This phase is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, weather permitting,” Trevisan said in an email April 21.

“Dismantling activities at the Superstack are scheduled to proceed toward the end of May.”

She reminded residents with drone cameras that getting too close to the site is not allowed.

“To ensure the safety of our workforce and protect critical infrastructure, the operation of drones over or near the Superstack within Sudbury operations property is strictly prohibited,” she said.