China glass factory sets eyes to regional market

The Glass Industry Group of Africa (GIGA) is expected to churn out 600 tons of float glass a day, for which it will rank as the largest glass producer in the East Africa Community. Buildings of major plants and offices of GIGA have cropped up with the remaining to be completed towards the end of 2016.

The company is planned to run into production in 2017.

According to Zhu Jinfeng, a Chinese Tanzanian and a major investor of the GIGA project, GIGA will create 800 job opportunities in Tanzania and help promote related sectors of the Tanzanian economy.

Zhu adds that GIGA will import a production line from China with an annual output of 135,000 to 168,000 tons and that a glass production line of such a scale requires an investment of 80 million US dollars.

There are only several glass bottle factories in the East Africa Community, and the EAC countries have to rely on imports when it comes to float glass, the demand of which increases by 6-7 per cent year a year.

According to the GIGA feasibility report, Tanzania has favourable conditions for glass manufacturing because of its rich resources in silica sand, limestone, dolomite and soda ash, all essential raw materials in glass making.

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS

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