this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
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White Elephant

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White Elephant

A white elephant, alternatively referred to as a "boondoggle" or "grands travaux inutiles (GTI)," is a metaphor that represents a (partially) completed structure that is deemed wasteful in terms of both time and finances. Simultaneously, it becomes a liability due to the ongoing expenses associated with its maintenance, operation and commitments.

Instances of white elephants encompass various scenarios, such as the construction of bridges without corresponding road connections, the establishment of railways that remain unused, or the erection of substantial structures like power plants that never become operational.

The metaphor white elephant and why it is used

Wikipedia description of the metaphor: a white elephant is a possession that its owner cannot dispose of, and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness.

In this context, the metaphor 'white elephant' is used because these extensive (partially) constructed projects demand maintenance, inspections, and similar commitments, making them a persistent source of burden for their owners, despite being (largely) unproductive.

This community

This community is a gathering of white elephant projects. White elephants can be captivating in several aspects:

  1. Their level of "wastefulness" stands in stark contrast to our predominantly organized and planned society;
  2. The stories behind these white elephants can be intriguing;
  3. They can have vast, deserted constructions featuring interesting images and other visual content.

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A nuclear power plant was built in Kalkar, Germany, and was completely constructed, ready to accept nuclear fuel. However, the project was put on hold and later canceled.

Background

The SNR-300 project began in the 1970s as a collaboration between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and aimed to demonstrate the viability of fast breeder reactor technology. However, due to various factors including safety concerns, cost overruns, and public opposition to nuclear energy, the project faced multiple delays and controversies. In the late 1980s, following the Chernobyl disaster and growing anti-nuclear sentiment, the governments decided to cancel the SNR-300 project.The construction of the reactor was halted, and the project was officially abandoned in the early 1990s.

Some of the structures were later demolished and equipment was either sold or destroyed. The already received nuclear fuel was transported to France, where it was used in their nuclear reactors.

Repurpose

The site where the SNR-300 was being built, was repurposed into an amusement park known as "Wunderland Kalkar." The reactor building was transformed into a hotel, and the surrounding area now hosts various attractions.

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