A solitary tower remains standing at the site of the abandoned Baglan Bay Power Station near Port Talbot, which was once a thriving hub of industry but now stands empty and unused. The power station, constructed in 2003 on the former Isopropanol BP chemicals plant site at a cost of approximately £300 million, was considered a state-of-the-art facility at the time.
The site fell into disuse after the Baglan Group went into administration in the summer of 2020, leading to the cessation of electricity generation. The group of companies later entered compulsory liquidation in March 2021, and an official receiver was appointed to oversee the safe winding down of operations. In recent years, the site has been plagued by a series of arson attacks, culminating in a massive fire that burned for over 40 hours in August 2023.
Despite warnings from the fire service about the dangers posed by the arson attacks, the site has remained a target for such incidents. The once bustling area, which employed thousands of people over the years, now sits desolate, with only a few buildings remaining near the main tower. Signs still stand at the entrance warning people to stay away due to safety concerns.
Photographs taken this week depict the eerie quietness of the site, a stark contrast to its former bustling activity. The images showcase the towering structure standing alone amidst rubble, a somber reminder of its industrial past. The tragic fate of the Baglan Bay Power Station serves as a poignant symbol of the decline of once-thriving industrial sites.