NBL focuses on water efficiency amid drought

Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has intensified efforts to conserve water amid Namibia’s ongoing drought.

The company, which uses 4.4 litres of water to produce a single bottle of beer, has reduced its use of municipal water by at least 70%.

This was highlighted by NBL sustainability manager Franklin Angermund last week.

He said the brewery employs a 4R approach, which stands for reduce, reuse, recycle and reclaim.

“We’re primarily focused on internal optimisation to minimise water usage and maximise efficiency.

“By implementing various strategies, we’ve managed to improve our water efficiency by 7.5% compared to last year,” Angermund said.

NBL, which sources water from both municipal and borehole supply, captures waste water and reuses it for other purposes, such as cooling and cleaning.

NBL also makes use of water from the Northern Aquifer.

“While the initial investment in water efficiency measures may be significant, the long-term benefits, both environmental and financial, outweigh the costs,” Angermund said.

To deal with the sustainability of the water supply, NBL is actively engaging with other industries in the Northern Industry Forum to assess the longevity of the Northern Aquifer and develop collaborative strategies for water resource management.

“By prioritising water efficiency and working together with stakeholders, we can ensure a sustainable future for our operations and the communities we serve,” Angermund added.