Faced with a diminishing local Portland cement market and fuel oil costs which have rocketed fifteen fold in the last decade, Puerto Rican Cement conducted several plant conversion studies, including the utilization of preheaters and filter presses, to reduce manufacturing costs and consequently remain competitive. These studies finally led to a decision, in the early part of 1981, to go ahead with a coal conversion project which would offer a maximum return on project investment. Based on market conditions, equipment efficiency, rated production capacities, centralized control and other economic considerations, it was decided to convert from fuel oil to coal burning for the three largest rotary kilns. An indirect coal firing system and a single coal pulverizer in a central coal grinding and drying installation were selected for inherent higher efficiency and minimum project investment respectively.