Mexico: Cemex Ventures has invested in Prysmex, a Mexico-based startup that offers a product capable of detecting and helping to prevent workplace accidents through the Internet of Things and real-time data collection. Following a successful trial period, Cemex has installed Prysmex’s product at all its cement plants in Mexico.

Prysmex’s product features a web platform with a collaborative management app that monitors the environmental and geolocation variables of unsafe acts and conditions on customized 3D maps, enabling real-time decision-making and increased industry safety and productivity. Through the Internet of Things, Prysmex enables an analysis of data such as impacts, light and noise levels, locations, temperatures and the presence of toxic gases. Placed on the workers' helmets, Prysmex devices monitor and communicate in real time users' conditions, alerting them to potential situations and high-risk areas. In addition, its web application provides an analytical report of workers' and plant conditions, enabling better workplace decision-making and accident prevention at all times.

Founded by chemical engineer Susana Ruiz and civil engineer Patricio de Villa in Monterrey, Mexico, Prysmex was the finalist of Cemex Ventures Startup Competition 2017 and is now part of the company's portfolio.

Pakistan: Gharibwal Cement has started commercial operation of a 250t/hr vertical cement mill for grinding cement. It says it is the single largest cement grinding mill in the country. The cement producer operates a 2.1Mt/yr integrated plant at Ismailwal in Chakwal.

Norway: The government has proposed continuing funding for Norcem’s CO₂ capture and storage project at its Brevik cement plant. The announcement follows an assessment by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of local carbon capture, transport and storage (CCS) projects. The government has proposed to fund FEED studies (Front End Engineering and Design studies) with around Euro8m in 2018. The total funding for the demonstration project in 2018 amounts to Euro29m, including funds transferred from 2017. The proposed funds for 2018 will cover FEED studies of CO₂ transport, storage and up to two capture facilities.

“Of the three CO₂ capture projects evaluated, Norcem has the best conditions for a successful implementation. Norcem has demonstrated project execution abilities and relatively low cost per tonne CO₂ captured compared to the other two capture projects. The cement industry is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions,” said the government in a statement Norcem, HeidelbergCement local subsidiary, which sbeat other projects by Yara and Fortum Oslo Varme to the funding.

Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement has launched resource-planning software across its business. The software was developed by Abas and implemented by Providence Global, according to the Daily News newspaper. The software is being deployed across all of Tokyo Cement’s operations, including its cement plant at Trincomalee, its ready-mix concrete plants, and its bulk cement import terminal and biomass power generation units. The new software is intended to fully integrate supply chain management and warehouse operations.