Belarus: Heineken Belarus gets EUR5 mln loan from EBRD

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is lending the Belarus unit of Heineken NV, the world’s third-largest brewer, 5 million euros ($6.7 million) to support barley farmers and use water more efficiently in its breweries, Bloomberg reported on January, 24.

The EBRD said in a statement that the Dutch company would receive funding for the brewery in Bobruisk, southeast of the capital Minsk, to upgrade the brewhouse, add eco-friendly refrigerators and boost high-quality barley production.

The bank is providing 5 million euros in funding for the Belarus operations of Europe’s largest beer producer “mainly to support the company’s efforts to promote the production of high- quality barley by local farmers and make a more efficient use of water and energy in its breweries,” it said.

Established in 2007, Heineken Belarus is one of the leading beer producers in the country and one of the first privatized breweries in Belarus. Its products include local beer brands Bobrov and Rechitskoe and licensed beer under the brands Zlaty Bazant, Doctor Diesel, Gosser and PIT as well as popular malt-based soft drink kvass under own local brand Hatni.

Although Heineken became the single largest beer producer in Belarus in 2011, the sector is still dominated by state-owned breweries.

30 January, 2013