East African Bottling Share Company (EABSC) has started construction of a plant in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, as part of the larger agenda to invest US$500m in the country. The new plant, which is being constructed at the Amhara Regional State, will cost US$21m.
The plant is set for completion within 18 months and will be constructed on a 30ha plot. Herbert Nuwamanya, country sales and marketing manager at East African Bottling told Fortune that Ethiopia market was considered one of the largest and fastest growing in the continent. Once complete, the plant is expected to produce 15 million units a year.
The construction of the plant will be undertaken by Elmi-Olindo Plc, a local construction company. The latter has been involved in construction of East African’s bottling plant in Dire Dawa, among other beverage plants and construction projects. As part of the larger expansion, EABSC company has also announced that it would construct two other plants in Hawassa and another one in western Ethiopia, to be completed by 2020.
East Africa Bottling Share Company is the Coca Cola Franchise bottler in Ethiopia under Coca Cola South Africa Bottling Company (CCSABCO). The company already runs two plants in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
East African Bottling manufactures bottles for beverages, and has served renowned names such as Fanta group, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Schweppes, Coke Light and Dasani bottled water. The company announced last year that it would invest U.S $ 250 Million in Ethiopia in the coming five years, to boost its capacity.
The General manager had said last year that new production lines would be introduced in September last year, and this 2015, and a new production plant constructed. He also indicated that the company was working with an Indian company, Caba Impact to engage 2000 women in recycling plastic bottles in Ethiopia.
