The program has been finalized for the 36th annual International Cement Seminar and Exposition, sponsored by Cement Americas. The theme of this year's event, being held Dec. 3-6, 2000, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, Charleston, S.C., is "The Challenge of Demand."

Presenters will address some of the most pressing issues facing the cement industry today, including increasing environmental regulation and permitting, and the unprecedented amount of capacity expansion in North America and the worldwide import situation.

Among the scheduled highlights of International Cement 2000 are tours of two area cement plants and a recently completed cement import terminal. The first stop on Wednesday, Dec. 6, will be Blue Circle's 760,000-ton-capacity Harleyville Plant. After lunch, buses will continue on to Holnam's Holly Hill Plant, which recently announced plans to boost capacity 80% to 1.8 million tpy. Following the plant visits, there will be an optional visit to Blue Circle/Kinder Morgan's Port of Charleston Terminal, a brand new deep-water import operation featuring two storage domes, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world with 90,000 tons of storage.

In addition, an expansive technology exhibition is planned. And our traditional golf outing is scheduled for early arrivals on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Charleston National Country Club. The bus for the golf outing leaves the Embassy Suites at 11 a.m.

For more information on exhibiting at or attending International Cement 2000, contact Intertec Exhibitions, 5680 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 100, Englewood, CO 80111, USA; (+1) 303-741-2901 or (+1) 800-288-8606; fax: (+1) 720-489-3164; web: www.intlcementshow.com