INDICATIONS emerged yesterday that a new glass factory, TechnoGlass Industry, may soon be established in Ughelli, Delta State by a Chinese firm, Rider Glass Industries Limited.

The Chinese firm is setting up the factory in partnership with TechnoGlass Industries Limited, Lagos, following the moribund state of the Bendel Glass Factory. The Bendel Glass factory, which went down over twenty years ago, has since been earmarked for privatization by the State Government.

The ailing glass factory, according to its General Manager, Barrister Joseph Ukpedor, will run side by side with the new factory when it eventually comes on stream, explaining that the new factory would be sited on a virgin land near Bendel Glass Industries.

Ukpedor commended the State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, Messrs Abel Oshevire and Taleb Tebite representing Ughelli North Local Government Constituency 11 and Ughelli South Local Government Area Constituency respectively in the State House of Assembly for their role towards ensuring that the company was revamped.

Speaking during the visit of the Chinese team to the factory yesterday, the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduagha, assured the expatriates of their safety and restated that the state was peaceful for investors to come in.

The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Land Security, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori noted that the government was determined to industrialize the state. According to him, the state is the most peaceful in the country, and peace and security is the first item on the 3-point agenda of the state government.

Mr. John Aluya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, TechnoGlass Industries Limited, Lagos who spoke on behalf of the Chinese firm, said they were challenged knowing that the demand of the people was in no way different from what the state government hinted, adding that the new factory would produce 240 tons of glass per day.