Ukraine to Build Its First High-Tech Float Glass Manufacturing Plant

Ukraine is set to build its first float glass manufacturing plant in the Kyiv region by 2028. Investors from NovaSklo, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the government investment office UkraineInvest, officially announced the project’s launch today.

“Ukraine is actively developing its processing industry—we aim to increase its share in GDP to 20% over the next decade in line with OECD standards. This goal is at the heart of the ‘Made in Ukraine’ policy. One of its key instruments is support for large-scale investment projects that foster production growth, attract capital, and stimulate non-commodity exports.

Glass manufacturing is a critical sector within the processing industry, playing a strategic role in construction, industrial production, and the country’s post-war recovery. The construction of this plant will create new jobs and attract additional investment into Ukraine’s industrial sector. The government supports such large projects by offering incentives that reimburse up to 30% of total capital investment costs,” said Andriy Teliupa, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

NovaSklo and UkraineInvest have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. Under this agreement, the government investment office will provide legal, consultative, and analytical support to help the project obtain a special status, making it eligible for tax and customs benefits, as well as partial reimbursement for infrastructure development and network connections.

“UkraineInvest, the government agency responsible for supporting large-scale investment projects, will provide critical assistance to this initiative—both in preparing applications and feasibility studies, as well as throughout the implementation of the special investment agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the investor. Our team will offer NovaSklo legal, consultative, and analytical support to accelerate the realization of its investment goals,” stated Oleksandr Melnychenko, Acting Executive Director of UkraineInvest.

NovaSklo is a project of EFI Group, a Ukrainian investment company, aimed at constructing Ukraine’s first large-scale, modern float glass manufacturing facility. This initiative is poised to attract strategic investment into the country’s industrial development, even amid the ongoing war. The project has a planned investment of €240 million and is expected to create over 300 jobs in its first year.

The project’s financing structure includes investments from EFI Group’s own funds, partners and international credit financing. Specifically, a loan covering 85% of the production equipment cost, amounting to approximately €97 million, will be provided by a bank under the guarantees of Germany’s Export Credit Agency.

A Game-Changer for Ukraine’s Glass Industry

“NovaSklo is not just a factory—it symbolizes Ukraine’s new industrial future. We are among the few in the country building production facilities from scratch with no existing analogs, pioneering the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in our sector. I believe NovaSklo will become a benchmark for efficient, high-tech, and competitive manufacturing.

Glass production is one of the most complex industries, and the risks are enormous. That is why we carefully selected the best technologies and partners. We have chosen the best German technology and equipment from HORN Glass Industries, which will be made entirely of the world’s finest refractories, top-quality rollers, a state-of-the-art furnace, and a cutting-edge lehr — all manufactured directly in Germany. We have assembled an international team of experts with direct experience in launching float glass plants, who have already worked with us for a year. Importantly, we have secured a guarantee that the equipment manufacturer’s specialists will remain on-site for a year and a half after the plant’s launch, ensuring a successful start-up, fine-tuning of operations, and comprehensive staff training to maintain the highest product quality.

Thanks to our strategic location, access to high-quality quartz sand, and support from international financial institutions, NovaSklo will be built faster, more efficiently, and will become a key driver of Ukraine’s industrial independence,” said Igor Liski, Founder of EFI Group and lead investor in NovaSklo.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine consumed 32 million m² of glass annually. By 2023, this figure had dropped to 19.6 million m². NovaSklo’s first production line will have an annual capacity of 25 million m² — less than pre-war demand. With Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts underway, the company anticipates future demand to reach 45 million m², prompting plans for a second production line. The main consumers of this glass will be manufacturers of windows, facades, and related products. This project will establish Ukraine’s glass manufacturing sector and also stimulate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and local communities.

A Global Investment Opportunity

“The investment potential of this plant is global. We will produce high-value coated glass, which is increasingly in demand worldwide due to trends in light and sustainable construction. NovaSklo will manufacture clear float glass with enhanced transparency (mid and low iron extra-clear glass) and coated glass, including solar control (to reduce heat absorption) and low-emission coatings (to improve insulation) from the first year of operation. Additionally, we plan to produce multifunctional glass, mirror substrates, laminated architectural glass, and extra-large format glass panels (Jumbo XXL up to 12 meters). These innovations will expand possibilities for architects and contribute to Ukraine’s high-quality, energy-efficient reconstruction.

Currently, Ukraine is entirely dependent on imported glass. NovaSklo will reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, making the domestic market more resilient and competitive,” emphasized Olga Batova, CEO of investment company EFI Group. The plant construction will involve leading German manufacturers supplying state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, fostering industrial innovation, further integrating Ukraine’s economy into the European market.