St Marys Cement modernises kiln

Votorantim-owned St Marys Cement is proposing a US$130m kiln modernisation project at its Charlevoix, Michigan, USA, plant. The project will lead to lower emissions, improved efficiency and increased production. The expansion will see capacity increase from 1.4Mta to 2Mta.

At present the cement producer is working through the permitting process, but it expects the upgraded pyroprocessing section to start up in 2Q2017.  “In April of 2017, we plan on starting up this new modernised kiln system,” said St Marys Cement Operations Manager, Randy Pryor. at a public meeting. “So, essentially, we are going to be doing a lot of this construction work during this 2016 season.”

Cement demand in the Great Lakes is returning to growth. Last August, the company announced it would reopen its Dixon, Illinois, works, which had been converted to a cement terminal in 2008 due to the recession.