GCC converts Minnesota to Portland limestone cement

The company says the transition will be complete in July 2022, with the cement coming from GCC’s Rapid City plant in South Dakota.

“We believe that our industry must continue to provide the homes, roads and infrastructure that shape our world while, simultaneously, addressing the challenge of climate change and sustainability,” said Ron Henley, president of GCC’s US division.

PLC differs from portland cement by increasing the amount of limestone in the formula. GCC says that PLC is a proven product that performs similarly to Portland cement with almost identical strength, workability and durability.

The Minnesota transition to PLC represents approximately 300,000 stons of cement per year reaching this market. GCC estimates that this transition will reduce CO2 by almost 20,000 tons per year, the equivalent of removing about 4,000 cars from the road each year or the equivalent of carbon sequestration by more than 20,000 acres of forest. GCC plans to expand production of PLC to more of its plants in the near future.

GCC's annual cement production capacity is 5.8 million metric tons. The company employs approximately 3,000 employees in the U.S. and Mexico.