South Africa to steel a new brewery

Steel from ArcelorMittal South Africa will be used in the construction of a new Dutch brewery, located south of Johannesburg. Heineken, the world’s 4th largest brewer, said they will go a long way in helping the provincial government fight poverty and create more jobs.

Good news for the locals: an estimated 225 permanent jobs and a considerable number of new, service-related opportunities will be created once the brewery is up and running.

It will be owned 75% by Heineken and 25% by Diageo, the UK beverages group. It is built on the Brandhouse joint venture between Heineken, Diageo and Namibian Breweries to distribute their brands in South Africa.

This is the first large brewery to be built of late in South Africa and they plan to invest heavily in skills development. The buildings will be made out of structural steel and brick structures, with 3,500 tons of steel roof sheeting and 2 million bricks!

Work is already underway on the site and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. So, one more year and we will be able to celebrate the end of the works… with a beer?

Photo: Construction work at the Heineken brewery site in South Africa