Ciner Glass has secured a €504 million financing agreement to accelerate the development of its next-generation container glass production facility in Lommel, Belgium, positioning the site as one of the most significant new glass packaging investments in Europe in recent years. The project is widely described as one of Belgium’s largest foreign direct investments of the past decade, reflecting Ciner Glass’ long-term strategy to build high-capacity, efficient container glass manufacturing inside the European market.

The Lommel facility is designed around two high-capacity furnaces, each rated at 650 tonnes per day (tpd), delivering a combined full-site capacity of 1,300 tpd once both units are commissioned. These furnaces will supply eight production lines, supporting large-scale output for the European container glass supply chain. Beyond industrial scale, the project has a strong local impact, with the plant expected to create around 500 direct jobs once fully operational.

Financing for the project is structured as a balanced package comprising €252 million in ECA-backed facilities and an additional €252 million in commercial facilities, with part of the commercial financing guaranteed by Gigarant NV. The ECA-backed component is supported by SACE S.p.A., UK Export Finance (UKEF), and SERV. The commercial lending consortium includes BNP Paribas S.A. and BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV (acting as Agent and Coordinator), alongside MUFG Bank, KBC Bank NV, Belfius Bank NV, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA), DHB Bank NV, Banco BPM S.P.A., and ENBD Denizbank.

With financing secured, construction at Lommel is advancing at pace. Ciner Glass Belgium has already started building the first furnace, with the foundation stone officially placed as a major on-site milestone. The company estimates that the furnace construction will require over one million bricks, highlighting the scale of refractory installation involved. Works have also begun on the first chimney, which will be installed by Belgian construction specialist Aertssen Group, rising to 100 metres in height.

The plant is targeted to be operational in Q2 2026, while the second furnace is scheduled for 2027, bringing the site to full capacity. During a July site visit, Ciner welcomed key European project partners, including Bottero, Lahti Glass Technology, TecoGlas, E2Pack, and Tiama, to review progress and align on the next phases, including finalising payment terms for the second furnace.

Ciner Glass states the Lommel development is driven by a commitment to producing lighter, high-quality container glass with minimal energy consumption, supporting a lower environmental footprint and a more resilient European supply base. The company has also begun onboarding its first new hires in Lommel as recruitment progresses ahead of start-up.