The National Bank of Canada has approved a loan to the tune of US$329 mn for the upgradation of McInnis Cement plant. This is in addition to the US$458 mn in equity gathered from private and public investors, including the joint venture formed by Groupe Beaudier and La Caisse de d?pot et placement du Qu?bec, as well as from the participation of Investment Qu?bec (IQ). IQ has also provided a US$229 mn commercial loan, which brings the loan total to US$1.00 bn.The amount will be spent on setting up a state-of-the-art technology for improved environmental performance, including the latest generation of bag filters for improved efficiency. The plant will also utilise maritime transportation for fuel, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the beginning the plant will use petroleum coke as fuel. Over the coming years, greenhouse gas emissions from the plant will be reduced by partly replacing the petroleum coke with biomass, which is available in the Gasp? region. This partial conversion to biomass is at the very heart of the upgradation plan for the cement plant. Construction has begun and the project is well under way. The ecological footprint project will be one of the lowest in the industry.