‘City of Glass’ Is Under Threat From Iran War

Key Points:

• Glass factories in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, reliant on imported natural gas mainly from the Persian Gulf, are facing shortages and high prices, threatening the jobs of up to one million people in the glassmaking industry.
• Since 1996, these factories have been prohibited from using coal-fired furnaces to protect the Taj Mahal's marble facade, increasing their dependence on natural gas.
• Firozabad's glass industry, consisting of hundreds of small and midsize firms, generates over $1 billion annually, including $200 million in exports, producing items ranging from bottles to chandeliers.
• The glassmaking sector is vital for India's economy, providing labor-intensive employment opportunities crucial to absorbing the approximately nine million young people entering the labor market each year.
• With India's economy ranking just behind Germany and Japan globally, maintaining industries like glassmaking is essential to reducing high unemployment and leveraging the country's large workforce.