Ciner Glass secures US$582M financing deal to develop Belgian facility

BELGIUM – Ciner Glass, a global leader in glass container production, has secured a US$582 million financing deal to develop a cutting-edge container glass manufacturing facility in Lommel, Belgium. 

According to company announcements, the plant, set to open in Q2 2026, will boast a daily production capacity of 1,300 tonnes, positioning it as a pivotal contributor to Europe’s sustainable packaging supply chain.

The state-of-the-art facility will feature two high-capacity furnaces, each producing 650 tonnes daily to supply eight production lines. 

n a statement, Gökhan Şen, CEO of Ciner Glass, emphasized the project’s significance: “This investment is a milestone for Ciner Glass and a testament to our vision for sustainable industrial growth in Europe.” 

“We’re proud to deliver high-quality, environmentally responsible products while creating hundreds of jobs.”

The facility is expected to generate approximately 500 direct jobs, boosting the local economy in Limburg. 

It aligns with Ciner Glass’s commitment to sustainability by producing lighter glass containers with 75% recycled glass, reducing energy consumption by 20% due to lower melting temperatures. 

This innovation is projected to cut annual CO2 emissions by nearly 29,000 tonnes through reduced resource use and optimized transport.

The financing package, described as one of Belgium’s largest foreign direct investments in a decade, comprises US$291 million in export credit agency-backed facilities from SACE, UK Export Finance, and SERV, alongside US$291million in commercial loans, partially guaranteed by Gigarant NV.

 Key financial partners include BNP Paribas, MUFG Bank, and KBC Bank, among others. Şen expressed gratitude, stating, “Our sincere thanks go to our financial partners and the Flemish Government for their trust and collaboration in building a greener future for the glass industry.”

Recent updates indicate that during a July site visit, Ciner Glass finalized payment terms with partners Bottero, Lahti Glass Technology, TecoGlas, E2Pack, and Tiama for the second furnace, set to launch in 2027, bringing the plant to full capacity. 

This development complements other sustainable packaging initiatives, such as Veolia’s £70 million tray-to-tray PET recycling facility, which aims to process 80,000 tonnes of mixed plastics annually.

In related news, Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe’s Limmared facility successfully trialed green hydrogen for glass melting between October and December 2024, saving 70 tonnes of CO2.

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