The British liquor manufacturing company, Diageo is now entering the clean energy infrastructure in Africa. It has announced plans to invest US $219m into clean energy infrastructure in 11 of its African breweries. Billed as one of the biggest clean energy investments in the decade, Diageo’s investment includes a US$61million capital injection in solar power, water treatment and biomass equipment followed by US$158million investment in maintenance and operations. The company will install new biomass boilers in its new brewery in Kisumu, in Kenya, Tusker brewery in Nairobi, and in another plant in Kampala, in Uganda.
The new boilers will use wood chip, bamboo and rice husks, thereby reducing carbon emissions by 42,000 tonnes a year. Close 900 jobs will also be created down the supply chain and income generating avenues for local farmers who provide biomass fuels. The company also will install new water purification systems in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, which will help save over two billion cubic litres of water a year. The solar installations at 12 breweries across six countries will meet 20% of each brewery’s electricity demand.
The Tusker site, with the new installations will become the most environmentally friendly brewery in Sub-Saharan Africa. With these investments, Diageo will meet its target set for 2020 for improving water efficiency by 50%, reduction of carbon footprint by 30% in the supply chain and meeting 100% of energy requirements through renewable energy.
In 2008 Diageo launched a new bio-energy plant at the Cameronbridge distillery in Scotland in 2008, as an effort to go green. Since then, there was no looking back. It is widely expected Diageo’s lead role in Africa to become an environment friendly company will motivate others to follow suit to contribute their mite towards reversing climate change. Diageo has 12 breweries across the continent, which accounts for 13% of global sales. Its breweries in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda produce more beer than any other region.
