A method is disclosed for manufacturing white cement wherein cement clinker is burnt in a kiln and prior to discharge from the kiln the clinker is contacted with a reducing agent such as fuel oil. The method further comprises discharging the hot cement clinker from the discharge portion of the kiln to a movable clinker supporting means such as a rotatable conveyor and quenching the cement clinker simultaneously with the discharge thereof from the kiln by subjecting the clinker to a spray of cooling water in a manner such that a major portion of the quenching water evaporates substantially immediately following the quenching. The method further comprises transferring the cement clinker to a clinker transporting means such as a linear conveyor and subjecting the clinker to further cooling while evaporating substantially all of the remaining quenching water, and creating and maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure at the location of discharge of the hot cement clinker from the kiln to prevent evaporating water from entering the kiln. The invention also pertains to plant for practicing the inventive method.