Vetropack jar and bottle maker resumes production in Hostomel outside Kyiv

"The domestic market has slowly been recovering, and many companies are restarting production," said Pavel Prinko, General Manager of Ukraine and Republic of Moldova Business Unit.

"We expect demand for glass packaging for food and drinks to increase in 2023 by about 7% against 2022, which is in line with our production capacity."

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The first melting furnace has been brought up to temperature and filled since May 25, with the first new glass likely to be produced in June, the company said.

The heat-up of the second furnace is set to follow soon.

Vetropack had to shut down production for safety reasons on Feb. 24, 2022, the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A short time later, the plant sustained severe damage as one of the three furnaces was destroyed beyond repair.

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Due to this damage, the company was forced to cut around two thirds of the approximately 600 jobs at the site. Vetropack has now hired 139 employees, primarily former staff of the site, to resume production.

Currently, the site is prepared for all possible emergency scenarios, the company said.

In particular, Vetropack has developed various engineering scenarios in an effort to ensure alternative energy supplies are available if there are blackouts. The company also remodeled the electrical distribution system and installed additional generators. In addition, corresponding contingency plans have also been put in place for possible gas supply disruptions.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine