Float glass producer Tandako of Hungary may invest up to €100 million in the construction of a float glass plant in the city of Irbit, situated in the Ekaterinburg region of Russia’s Urals.

According to reports, the project may be implemented with the participation of Uralic glass plants, as well as the local government, which has been looking for investors in a new glassmaking facility in the region for three years.

There is also a possibility that the plant could be constructed in the Kamensk-Uralski area of the Ekaterinburg region with the participation of another investor, of which the name has not been disclosed.

At present, the shortage of glass in the region is estimated to be 60 million m2 which, authorities in the Yekaterinburg region at the centre of Russia’s Urals, say has a negative effect on local construction activities. Hence, the proposed new plant is expected to solve the problem, depending on the final decision of Tandako, which plans to have a 75% stake in the company, as well as, reportedly, to receive tax incentives from the local government.

In addition to float glass production, the plant is planned to specialise in secondary glass processing, as well as the production of heat insulating materials, particularly glass wool.

It is thought that this would be the first glass plant located in the Middle Urals area of Russia.