In the method according to the invention for operating a cement plant, the raw meal is preheated in a preheating zone, the preheated material is precalcined in a calcining zone and the precalcined material is finally sintered in a sintering zone. The cement plant is operated in such a manner that the precalcined material which is supplied to the sintering zone has an SO3 concentration of at least 5.5% by mass and a CaSO4 proportion of at least 75%, preferably 90%, of the total salt content.