Giant Cement Co. and its Spanish parent company, Cementos Portland Valderrivas, officially kicked off operation of its new $130 million facility in Harleyville, S.C., in mid-June with a ceremony at the plant.

The upgrade project, announced two years ago, was designed to increase clinker and powder production 25% and reduce overall plant emissions. The overhaul replaced four raw mills and four wet-process kilns with a three-stage preheater-precalciner kiln with a production capacity of as much as 3,500 tpd; a new 2300-hp vertical raw mill; and a new 6000-hp finish mill.

The new cement mill was commissioned mid-December 2004, with new kiln erection completed in February 2005 and the first clinker produced in late March. Because of construction requirements, kilns 4 and 5 were permanently shut down in January 2005, while kilns 2 and 3 are permitted to operate along with the new kiln. They, too, will be shut down permanently in about a year.

The project also includes new mills, silos, laboratory facilities, control room, an administrative offices. Construction began in July 2003 and was completed in March of this year.