Africa: The Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has invested an estimated Sh255 million in a wastewater treatment plant, AllAfrica Global Media posted on April 6. Mr James Musyoki, the company's managing director, yesterday said the new plant will replace KBL's existing treatment site and become the first of its kind in Kenya. "By upgrading and investing in the state-of-the-art effluent treatment plant we are ensuring the future of our river systems," said Musyoki in a statement. He said the plant would reduce effluent discharged by the brewery to National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) standards.

Construction of the plant, to be operational by December 2004, would be undertaken by Waterleau, a Belgium-based company, in collaboration with a local company, Cementers Kenya Limited. Musyoki said the new treatment site will produce water that is 97 per cent pure and cable of being recycled for use in irrigation projects. He said the EABL group will this year spend more than Sh600 million to establish wastewater treatment plants for its various factories in the region.

Kenya Maltings, another subsidiary of EABL is set to invest Sh80 million in a wastewater treatment plant for its malting operations, while Uganda Breweries recently invested Sh200 million in a similar site.

KBL has embarked on purification of water as a key element in its corporate social responsibility focus. The company has designed a programme dubbed "Water of Life" and its current two water projects are expected to give access to clean water to over 23,000 people in communities near Thika and Kisumu.

06 April, 2004