EXHIBIT 23.3


                 [CARDENAS, CASSAGNE & ASOCIADOS LETTERHEAD]


                                              Buenos Aires, September 3, 1998


Great Lakes Acquisition Corp.
551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3600
New York, New York 10176


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Copetro S.A., a subsidiary of Great Lakes 
Carbon Corporation (the "Company"), and Great Lakes Acquisition Corp. 
("Holding"), in connection with certain environmental matters.

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal 
Proceedings" in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 No. 333-59545 filed by 
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") 
and the Registration Statement on Form S-4 No. 333-59541 filed by Holdings 
with the Commission. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we 
are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under 
Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

             /s/ BERNARDO A. IRIBERRI             /s/ IGNACIO M. DE LA RIVA
             ------------------------             -------------------------
                 Bernardo A. Iriberri                 Ignacio M. de la Riva