Glass manufacturer, Zimbabwe Glass Industries (Zimglass), has reportedly failed to re-open as scheduled in April 2012, as the blast furnace is still to be completed.

The company, which has failed to open on two previous occasions, is now expected to resume operations on 1st June 2012.

The plant was shut down in September 2010 for the refurbishment of its furnaces and to purchase other production equipment after securing $7 million for the exercise from parent company: Industrial Development Corporation. Besides the construction of the furnace, the company has also invested in other glass making components such as independent section machines, quality inspection machines, refurbishment of the ceramic labelling machines and the refurbishment of the palletising and packaging sections.

The total cost of the refurbishment exercise on completion is expected to be $5.5 million, while $1.2 million is expected to go towards working capital.

Zimglass Managing Director, Jacob Dube, said the necessary glass manufacturing equipment would be delivered in May 2012, which will see the completion of the blast furnace, followed by the reopening of the plant.