Russian beer giant OAO Baltika Brewery has already invested about US$ 22 million in building a malting plant in Tula. 70% of the plant construction has already been finished. The company is to invest some more US$ 10 million. Baltika plans to launch the plant in the second half of 2004. The plant will have a production capacity of 105 thousand tonnes of malt per annum. The pay-back period is estimated at 6-9 years.

The new malting plant of Baltika is to consume about 11 thousand tonnes of high quality barley per month. Enterprises of Tula region will be able to sell grains to Baltika at a value of US$ 10 million per year. The brewery has already signed contracts with the farmers regarding barley purchasing.

10 March, 2004