Cement plant operation

[sailormatlac]

They seem to use both anthracite and coke. I know the used the hard coal for firing the furnaces and plant heat. I don't know about the coke, may be it is added to cement mix to make clinker. The current plant fires the kilns and furnaces with natural gas, I think, any coal shipments they get today is brought in by truck.

I once remember talks, in the early 1990s, they wanted to convert the St. Lawrence Cement plant to coke. Which means it wasn't before. I personnally don't recall seeing coal hopper cars during the 80s and 90s, so no clue what fuel they used when they stopped using coal in the late 70s/early 80s.

Matt