Eagle Materials has announced plans to modernise and expand its cement plant in Laramie, Wyoming, USA, and related distribution facilities, to serve the growing northern Colorado area, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. The upgraded plant and additional distribution facility in northern Colorado will feature state-of-the-art technology, designed to maximise operational efficiency and further strengthen Eagle’s low-cost producer position, according to the company.
The expansion will increase the cement plant’s production capacity to around 1.2Mta and reduce manufacturing costs by approximately 25 per cent. The expected cost reductions will come from the replacement of solid fuels with lower cost alternative fuels and natural gas, a simplified maintenance programme, and improved operational efficiencies. Additionally, the CO2 intensity of the Laramie facility is expected to decline by nearly 20 per cent once the project is complete.
The project investment, which includes an additional distribution facility in northern Colorado, is estimated to be approximately US$430m. The existing plant, which became operational in 1927, currently has an annual cement capacity of 800,000t. Planning for the project has been completed, primary regulatory approvals have been received and construction is expected to begin immediately with start-up scheduled for the 2H26.