The company’s Corporate Affairs Manager and Company Secretary, Albert Oju Collier enlightened the media that in January this year, SLBL conducted a massive overhaul and extensive maintenance of its bottling packaging line based on planned scheduled, manufacturers’ recommendations and international standards underscoring that SLBC employed the services of Krones, a German firm specializing in the supply and modernization of such plants, together with a large team of SLBL locally trained Sierra Leonean engineers and technicians to conduct the process which was completed in the first week of February this year.
He furthered that the project, which immediately followed the most expensive brewery expansion and upgrade in facilities, is another large investment of the company in the economy and manufacturing sector of Sierra Leone which took another major step in the improvement of its facilities in the journey of reaching the state-of-the art status asserting that the day is to showcase its latest investments in facilities upgrade that are part of a large modernization and expansion program of over Le278 billion.
According to the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager and Company Secretary, “these investments have further enhanced our production capacity and with this we are confident that we can meet our ever-increasing consumer demand for the upcoming years to come. These investments will also make sure that we maintain the highest quality of our products among others-Star Beer, Mutzig Beer,
Guinness foreign extra stout, Salone Beer of 100% locally produced sorghum, Maltina non-alcoholic and Trenk Dark-malt none-alcoholic energy drink. It is noteworthy that our customers and loyal consumers are the driving force behind our constant efforts to improve.”
Mr. Albert Oju Collier went on to articulate that maintenance and high standards are an important part of the company’s culture, that the objective is to renew the packaging equipment based upon international best practice and manufacturing excellence principals underscoring that with this, the upgraded bottling line is now more efficient and capable of producing more of SLBL products with the same high international standards for years to come which its revered customers would continue to be proud of.
He recalled that the brewery had embarked on a large-scale investment program which started since 2015 to expand capacity, maintain high quality and ensure environmental safety which saw the investments in brand new massive fermentation storage tanks, waste water treatment plant, mash filter equipment, CO2 and cooling plants and the most recent canning line introduction, the first in Sierra Leone, all investments for the future intimating however that the temporary halt in bottled drinks production as a result of the overhaul created a slight shortage of SLBL bottled products in a few areas for which some concerns were expressed.
Mr. Collier continued that the brewery is once again assuring its valued customers that stocks from its brand-new canning packaging line that was recently commissioned filled the slight shortage that occurred during the overhaul process of the bottling line disclosing that the brewery currently has ensured that both its portfolio of bottled and canned products are freely available nationwide.
“Our bottling plant is now in refreshed capacity and efficient to product high quality products for the coming years. We will continue to distribute all of our award-winning quality products to satisfy current and future consumer demand in the country and contribute to government efforts to support and boost local investments and manufacturing. With over Le278 million investments we have demonstrated our commitment for the future of Sierra Leone. These investments will build tomorrow’s success and ensure we continue to grow with Sierra Leone for many decades to come,” Mr. Albert Collier emphasized.
Sierra Leone Brewery Limited continues to play an important role in the social and economic growth of Sierra Leone through its corporate social responsibility agenda with support of the Heineken Africa Foundation. The company recently approved the support of an improved ultra-sound maternity project for the Well Woman Clinic at Aberdeen, implemented a submersible solar-powered water system in Koya Town, Loko Town and Wellington Industrial Estate areas after the commissioning of a mini-dam at Up Mountain, Peacock Farm which is now benefiting over 12,000 residents, supporting a water and sanitation project for Constituency 115 through Hon. Alpha Bah, Lion Heart Foundation and Masanga Hospital both in the North of the country .
SLBL has also constructed the Wellington Community Hospital to be commissioned after the Holy Month of Ramadan while construction of the Calaba Town Hospital is in progress and is due to be completed this year.
Since 2014, SLBL, together with Heineken Africa Foundation, invested an estimated Le6 billion in corporate social responsibility projects and will continue to do more for the people of Sierra Leone, according to company sources.
In 2005, SLBL introduced the use of locally-grown sorghum as a raw material in its production process. This has been a huge success and a game-changer in the entire country winning both local and international awards. The commercial growing of sorghum is now well-established and thousands of farmer families in the supply chain are now assured of their livelihood. The demand for sorghum has grown exponentially over the years considering the huge investments already put in place by the brewery in the mash filter and introducing a 100% sorghum beer. This is embedded in the company’s sustainability program to do local sourcing with a well-defined long term vision.
The investments showcased on Friday 26th April 2019 are the brewery’s commitment to quality, to its customers and the future growth of Sierra Leone. The company has preserved its establishment from 1962 which is a symbol of its common heritage with Sierra Leone and currently almost all of its equipment is new which will allow SLBL to brew excellent products for decades to come and to continue investing in the future.
Dennis Macfoy, the Packaging Manager of the brewery also made a statement while the conducted tour of the new plants, other equipments and facilities as well as the question and answer session climaxed the event.
