Chile: Cementos Polpaico has blamed a loss of US$3.2m in 2018 on changing an electricity supply contract. Changing the contract to move to a new supplier, Colbún, led to a negative financial impact of around US$12.5m. Its sales rose by 23% year-on-year to US$249m in 2018 from US$202m in 2017. Its sales volumes of cement grew by 10% to 1.35Mt from 1.23Mt. Despite the overall loss its earnings before interest taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 51% to US$18.7m from US$12.4m.

Philippines: Church and non-government organisations (NGO) have filed a document with the local government expressing their opposition against several San Miguel projects, including a new 2Mt/yr cement plant at Pagbilao in Quezon. They allege that no public hearing was given for local communities to comment on the projects among other complaints, according to the Business Mirror newspaper. San Miguel is planning to build a group of projects at the site in Ibabang Polo including a coal power plant, a logistics hub and a quarry.

Rwanda: Uganda’s Hima Cement is considering building a new cement plant. It has been conducting discussions with local agencies about the project, according to KT Press. The cement producer operates offices at Nyacyonga in Gasabo district. It also runs a warehouse and a ready-mix concrete batching plant.

Greece: Titan Group’s share exchange offer between its subsidiaries has failed. It blamed this on a lack of ordinary shares being tendered despite the support of Titan’s core shareholders and its board of directors. The voluntary share offer was intended to help list its shares at exchanges in Brussels and Paris. The group said that its strategy remained focused on international growth. It added that broadening sources of funding and improving access to international capital and credit markets was an important priority.