RP woos Chinese glassmaker

The government is wooing China’s Hebei Jingniu Crystal Bull Group Co. Ltd., to set up a glass manufacturing facility in Subic, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila said.

The glass manufacturing plant was supposed to be China’s biggest single investment in the Philippines. The company initially approached former Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima about the project in 2003 when the group estimated the cost of the plant at $312 million.

Jingniu is eyeing the Philippines because of skilled Filipino workers and as a base for its exports to the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and Japan.

Jingniu is eyeing a 100 to 130-hectare industrial park for the plant. Unfortunately, the available space in Subic was only 50 hectares and the original location was divided by a river.

The Philippine government instead tried offering Jingniu an alternative location at the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ).

This time around, Favila said Subic has identified three alternative sites: Maritan Hills; an adjacent lot in Maritan Hills separated by the Binictican River; and the Tipo area.

Jingniu’s plan was to put up two online float coated glass lines; two high-tech rolling crystallite glass line; one glass deep processing line and one crystallite glass deep processing line.

It also planned to set up one power generating plant with a capacity of 30,000 kva (kilo volt ampere) and one plastic yacht line which is currently not produced in the Philippines.

However, because of the delay, Jingniu has downscaled its plan.

The Philippines had also wanted Jingniu to manufacture tempered automotive glass since it is no longer being manufactured by Asahi Glass Philippines.

Jingniu’s main products include a variety of float sheet glass, online solar control reflective glass, high tech rolling crystallite glass with all kinds of color and specifications.

Its products are exported to more than 70 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

Jingniu has manufacturing and trading companies in Zimbabwe and Kenya.