Ukraine to build €240 million float glass plant

Ukraine is set to build a float glass manufacturing plant in the Kyiv region by 2028.

The NovaSklo project aims to construct a large-scale float glass facility in Ukraine.

The initiative aims to reduce Ukraine’s dependence on imports and attract investment into the country’s industrial development, even amid the ongoing war.

The project is by managed Ukrainian investment company Effective Investments (EFI) Group.

It has a planned investment of €240 million and is expected to create over 300 jobs in its first year.

The plant’s first production line will have an annual capacity of 25 million m².

Igor Liski, Founder of EFI Group and lead investor in NovaSklo, said: “NovaSklo is not just a factory - it symbolises Ukraine’s new industrial future.

"We are among the few in the country building production facilities from scratch, pioneering the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in our sector.

“Glass production is one of the most complex industries, and the risks are enormous. That is why we have carefully selected the best technologies and partners.”

Horn Glass Industries will supply the furnace, rollers, and lehr for the plant.

The €97 million equipment purchase is backed by a loan guaranteed by Germany’s Export Credit Agency.

Horn specialists will also remain on site after the plant’s launch to ensure a successful start-up, and for staff training.

The Ukrainian government is also supporting the initiative.

Andriy Teliupa, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, said: “Glass manufacturing is a critical sector within the processing industry, playing a strategic role in construction, industrial production, and the country's post-war recovery.

“The government supports such large projects by offering incentives that reimburse up to 30% of total capital investment costs.”

Ukraine’s glass industry

Before the Ukraine-Russia war, Ukraine consumed 32 million m² of glass annually.

By 2023, this figure had dropped to 19.6 million m².

While the initial production line’s annual capacity will be less than pre-war demand, the company anticipates future demand to reach 45 million m².

This could see the construction of a second production line.

The main consumers of this glass will be manufacturers of windows, facades, and related products.