Sources: GCC of America, Denver; CP staff
More than four years after first announcing a Rocky Mountain market expansion, GCC Rio Grande (a subsidiary of Mexico's Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua) plans a December 4 opening of a $200 million cement plant in Pueblo, Colo. With an eventual output capacity of 2,900 tons/day or 1.0 million tons/year, it stands to rank number two among production facilities in the state, behind Holcim (US) Inc.'s nearly 2.0 million-tons/year Florence plant.

According to GCC, the operation will make use of the most advanced equipment and technology available, keeping emissions levels in line with regulations set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In early 2006, FLSmidth was awarded the $55 million prime construction contract, the scope of which covered everything from the limestone and raw materials holding area to the cement-conveying equipment transferring finished product to storage structures.

GCC Rio Grande also operates a 600,000-tpy mill in Tijeras, N.M., and terminals in Albuquerque, N.M., and El Paso, Texas. In addition, the corporate parent owns sister company GCC Dacotah, Inc., which manages a production facility in Rapid City, S.D., and six terminals throughout Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.