Consol Glass is set to start production at its new Nigel plant in September, after running out of space to further develop its existing four operations, serving industries from pharmaceuticals to beverage bottlers. The company chose the site, demarcated as protected wetland, because the national and local governments had designated an industrial area in a region of economic need, already piped with Sasol natural gas, a ready water supply and an Eskom substation. the new furnace can melt 400/tpd and, depending on future demand, it could be one of six furnaces eventually installed at the state-of-the-art factory. Brian Rodger, Group Operations Director, said: "The Nigel plant has been about four years in the making, in terms of what the market would require." Adding that it would make ultra-lightweight glass containers.
