The demolition of the reactor building at Germany's decommissioned Stade nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony has begun, marking a significant milestone in the country's nuclear phase-out policy.Construction started in March 2026 and is expected to be completed by year-end.Stade, the first German reactor to be decommissioned after the 2003 nuclear phase-out decision, operated from 1972 until its shutdown in 2005.Dismantling began in 2005, with conventional demolition of auxiliary buildings starting in 2023.

The reactor building's dismantling, part of Phase II, involves weakening concrete structures with specialized equipment and prioritizing safety, environmental protection, and material recycling.This project is critical as it will make Stade the first fully decommissioned pressurized water reactor in Germany.The process includes hazardous material remediation, scaffold construction, and collaboration with Freimuth company for safe execution.

Germany's nuclear phase-out, initiated after Fukushima, has led to the closure of all reactors by 2023, with ongoing decommissioning efforts across the country.