South African glassmaker Consol Glass has broken ground on its new ZAR 1.9-billion greenfield investment in Nigel, in the Ekurhuleni municipal area of Gauteng, which is scheduled to come on stream in …
South African glassmaker Consol Glass has broken ground on its new ZAR 1.9-billion greenfield investment in Nigel, in the Ekurhuleni municipal area of Gauteng, which is scheduled to come on stream in September 2011. The first phase of the project will cost about ZAR 1.3 billion, while the second phase, which will take nine months to install and commission, will cost ZAR 600 million. According to Mike Arnold, managing director of Consol Glass, the plant will increase the group“s annual production by 25%, also increasing overall annual glass production to more than one million tons. The new site can hold up to six furnaces with a production capacity of 700,000 tons of glass, and was selected because there is room for further long-term capacity expansion. Market growth has led to the development of the new plant. Our forecasts indicate that, by the end of 2011, we will need additional capacity to accommodate this growth and, with this new factory, we can achieve this, he says. The plant, which will employ about 170 people, has easy access to water, gas and electricity, as well as a skilled labour market, will also help to develop the Nigel community and its environment by glass collection and recycling. Funds from recycling will be used to financially support other community development projects.