Page 63 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 2/2017
P. 63
A recently announced new company –
Juniper Glass – is being established thanks to
Consol Glass, the largest glass packaging
company in Sub-Saharan Africa. The new
company will have a state-of-the-art factory,
equipped with the latest available technology
in glass manufacturing. The new factory,
which is under construction, will have the
capacity to produce 60,000 tonnes of glass
annually, approximately 200 million glass bottles.
the Africa-focussed greenfield
investment company.
Commenting on the deal, CEO
of Juniper, Brooks Washington,
said, “Our partnership with
Consol, together with the sup-
port from the Development Bank
of Ethiopia, will help us to realise
our mission and meet the grow-
ing demand for high-quality glass
bottles. Perhaps more significant-
ly, it will contribute to Ethiopia’s
economic development by inno-
vating, building human capacity
million glass bottles. Juniper has Sub-Saharan Africa, with manu- and leveraging technology.”
agreed with most major bottlers facturing facilities in South Africa, Earlier, the Development Bank
in Ethiopia to allocate the major- Nigeria, and Kenya. Consol Glass of Ethiopia announced it had
ity of this capacity to replace is a recognised leader in glass approved a loan of ETB 565 million
imports. In addition, Juniper has packaging manufacturing and with (approximately USD 25 million)
also evaluated opportunities with their expertise and support Juniper for the project, which was devel-
international customers to export will be able to supply container oped by Roha. With final invest-
bottles into neighbouring coun- glass to highest quality standards. ment approval from Ethiopia’s
tries. Juniper Glass is expected to Trade Competition and Consumer
be operational within 18 months DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT Protection Agency, Juniper is fully-
and, with a strong consortium “Ethiopia provides a dynam- funded and will start operating as
of partners and full funding in ic environment for Africa’s soon as the factory is completed.
place, the project design has industrial growth,” said CEO “We are grateful for the sup-
firmly positioned Juniper for of Consol Glass, Mike Arnold, port of the various government
growth, with designs allowing “and the Ethiopian market is entities who have played a role
for further expansion on relative gaining momentum. We have in getting us to where we are,
short notice in future. been evaluating opportunities in including the Debre Birhan
The consortium behind Juniper Ethiopia for a number of years Municipality, Amhara National
includes Consol Glass, the larg- and are excited about our part- Regional State, and Federal agen-
est glass packaging company in nership with Juniper and Roha,” cies,” Washington added.
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