The company says the opening marks completion of the first phase of the expansion project, which will see AB double its brewing capacity and allow it to continue to grow production and sales of its flagship local brand, Club Premium Lager, and the other brands in its portfolio.
SABMiller Africa managing director Mark Bowman said: “We have made significant investments in our West African operations over the last three years, including our new and expanded brewery in Onitsha, Nigeria, and the expansion of our site in Accra. The long-term growth potential for the African beer market is enormous and the investments we are making today will ensure that we are prepared to capture the growth tomorrow.”
Work undertaken during the first phase of the project in Accra includes installation of new packaging-lines, 10 beer storage vessels, warehouse and storage facilities and two new autonomous power generators. The second phase of the project will include installation of a new effluent treatment plant, new brewing equipment and upgrading the municipal water supply, as well as other upgrades on the site to be completed before the end of 2015.
The first phase of expansion has created an additional 100 new jobs at the brewery says SABMiller, adding to the existing local workforce of just over 500. The expanded production capacity of the new site will also generate growth and job creation opportunities for the local suppliers and other small retail and distribution businesses in ABL’s value chain. ABL sources locally grown brewing materials such as maize, cassava, sorghum and rice from approximately 3,500 local farmers.
