Board members and NBL's management team with senior government officials flank President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during a recent visit to the brewer. PHOTO NBL
Board members and NBL's management team with senior government officials flank President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during a recent visit to the brewer. PHOTO NBL

NBL commits to Namibia’s future

Committed
Ogone Tlhage
Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has invested close to N$500 million to boost local capacity and drive digital transformation, its MD Waldemar von Lieres said, signalling its intent to grow Namibia’s economy.



Von Lieres made the remarks during a courtesy visit by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to the brewer’s facilities this week, describing it as a demonstration of NBL’s commitment to Namibia following its acquisition by Dutch brewer Heineken in 2023.



“Today, we employ nearly 1 000 Namibians, support over 700 local suppliers, and invest in the communities where we operate. Our recent investments - N$337 million in local production and N$151 million in digital transformation - demonstrate our long-term commitment to Namibia's growth and resilience,” Von Lieres said.



The investment now enables the local packaging of Tassenberg wine, Castelo ginger ale, and the Savanna and Hunters cider brands, the brewer announced last year. This addition follows Heineken’s acquisition of Distell, also in 2023.



In addition to the new wine packaging line, NBL has invested N$44 million to improve existing packaging lines and N$56 million to expand its warehouse.



According to Von Lieres, NBL has also expanded its export footprint across Africa.



“We are exporting to 12 markets across the continent, with our iconic Windhoek brand contributing to the cultural vibrancy of Namibian heritage,” he said.



NBL has further enhanced the efficiency of its brewing process, investing N$35 million in water-saving initiatives, achieving savings of 2.6 hectolitres (hl) of water per 1 hl of beer produced. (A hectolitre equals 100 litres.)



“Over the past decade, NBL has invested more than N$35 million in water conservation and efficiency. Last month, we achieved a record low water usage ratio of 2.77 hl/hl, with a target of 2.6 hl/hl by 2030,” Von Lieres said. “Our initiatives include advanced leak management, water-efficient technologies, and community projects to improve access and reduce waste.”



Von Lieres emphasised NBL’s commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen in its water conservation efforts. “As a founding member of the Northern Industrial Forum, we work with industry, the City of Windhoek, and the government to secure sustainable water sources for Windhoek's inhabitants and beyond. We help protect this precious resource through investments in borehole rehabilitation and northern aquifer monitoring.”



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Namibian Sun 2025-10-25

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