THE Kapiri Glass Manufacturing Company (KGMC) is expected to receive new equipment in the second quarter of this year in readiness for the commencement of production.
Company chairman Costain Chilala said the company is expected to commence production in November this year after equipment is installed.
Mr Chilala said in an interview that all the preparations at the factory are on schedule.
“We are proceeding very well with the commencement of production at the factory. The project is right on schedule as we speak, works are going on schedule and expected to be completed by November this year.
“The new machinery is expected to arrive in the country after May this year. Immediately the new equipment arrives, it will be installed,” he said.
Mr Chilala said once the plant commences production it will create about 600 jobs for the local people in the area.
Recently, KGMC signed a K40 billion (US$8 million) loan agreement with the PTA Bank to revive the plant.
He said demand for glass products has increased since the closure of the factory resulting in the importation of the product.
The KGMC plant, formerly Kapiri Glass Products, is estimated to cost US$22 million out of which US$13.6 million is working capital required to revamp the factory. Of the total US$13.6 million, the company has sourced US$8 million from PTA Bank, another US$2 million from Development Bank of Zambia while the remainder will be funded by Chimsoro Group of Companies.
The plant will have an initial production capacity of 75 metric tonnes of glass a day and later expand to 100 metric tonnes per day.
KGMC has partnered with more than five equipment suppliers from Switzerland, Italy and Germany that specialise in glass-making equipment.
