Three years after the integration of McInnis Cement into St Marys Cement, the former’s Port-Daniel–Gascons plant continues to make its mark on the industry thanks to its commitment to local employment and environmental protection.
Employing more than 200 people and providing work for up to 1,000 subcontractors, it is one of the largest private employers in the Gaspé region, according to St Marys Cement officials.
“Since we acquired the plant, we have been striving to make it a model of environmental excellence,” said Jorge Wagner, CEO of St Marys Cement. “With our long and extensive experience in the industry, we knew that we would be able to optimize production at the McInnis cement plant while minimizing its environmental footprint. That’s why [St Marys Cement] drew up a long-term business plan, which we are now implementing.
“Reinvestments continue to be made on a regular basis to achieve our environmental and operational objectives, and we are very proud of this. [St Marys Cement’s] vision is to achieve carbon neutrality in concrete by 2050,” he said.
To date, St Marys Cement has invested $80 million to sustain and improve the Port-Daniel–Gascons plant’s productivity and efficiency as well as its environmental footprint. The plant has fully transitioned production from traditional ordinary portland cement to portland-limestone cement, a product that has a significantly lower carbon footprint. Additionally, St. Marys said it intends to further sustainability at the McInnis plant by using lower-carbon fuels in its manufacturing process.
St Marys Cement is majority-owned by Votorantim Cimentos.
