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01.03.2015 Education

ABL inaugurates $100 million expansion project

01.03.2015 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, March 1, GNA - Accra Brewery Limited, ABL, a major beverage manufacturing firm, has inaugurated its new facilities which have been upgraded as part of a $100 million brewery expansion project.

The opening marks the completion of the first phase of the expansion project, which will see ABL 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.

Work undertaken during the first phase of the project includes installation of new packaging-lines, ten beer storage vessels, warehouse and storage facilities and two new autonomous power generators.

'In general terms this capacity expansion in our production capability will allow ABL to truly satisfy the demand of its customers and consumers, and this in turn will drive growth and stimulate increased utilisation of our key local raw material inputs, namely whole maize, maize grits, cassava, rice and sorghum,' ABL Managing Director Anthony Grendon said.

He said the first phase of expansion has created an additional 100 permanent new jobs at the brewery, adding to the existing local workforce of just over 500 and expressed the hope that the numbers will go up on the completion of the second phase.

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.

In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, President Mahama said ABL's investment of almost $100 million in the ultra-modern production facility at a time when the Country is afflicted with severe power shortages was a demonstration of confidence in the Ghanaian economy.

He commended ABL's parent company, SABMiller for the vote of confidence it had passed in Ghana as a globally competitive investment destination through its huge new investment in ABL.

'Initiatives by companies such as ABL to boost their production capacity through increased local value addition, unleashes the natural resource potentials of our country and the productivity potentials of our people,' President Mahama said.

He reiterated government's commitment to supporting and providing incentive packages for industries to thrive and compete on the international market.

The Board Chairman of ABL, Dr Charles Mensa said the increase in manufacturing and storage capacity would enable the company to employ more people directly and to create more opportunities for indirect jobs.

  GNA

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