Cement plant expansion cost evaluation for new and upgraded installations

This timely paper attempts to summarize and simplify the difficult topic of estimated project cost for new cement plant capacity and major plant upgrades. The initial review discusses new cement plant construction cost and offers a cost estimate for four typical plant sizes which have been recently studied by the writer. The costs shown are the result of calculated cost estimates for each main process area for the capacities required, not ratios or formulae. These results are then shown to form a capacity vs. cost curve. A brief review of the choices between new production lines vs. upgrade lines for each main process area is also discussed. Finally, the method of project execution is debated to highlight its importance and influence on project cost and schedule