Keystone Cement formally revealed recently its plans to upgrade and modernize its sole plant in Bath, Pa. The announcement came as the company also disclosed state Governor Edward G. Rendell's decision that the state would invest $7 million ($6.5 million in loans, $500,000 in grants) to support the project. By granting the package, the state hopes Keystone will retain the 180 workers employed at the currently 700,000-tpy facility.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing Keystone's plans to replace its two cement kilns, which use the wet processing method, with one precalciner kiln using the dry method. The process change should boost annual tonnage at the operation to about 1 million.

Some aspects of the $165 million upgrade have already begun Keystone, a subsidiary of Giant Cement Holding, Inc., which in turn is owned by Spain's Cementos Portland Valderrivas, and the project is expected to be completed by summer 2008.