Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) sources 91% of the energy used at its brewery from renewable sources and has cut water consumption by 30% since 2024.
The company says water security has become an operational concern, rather than simply an environmental issue, because of the structural water stress affecting the central region.
“Water security remains both a sustainability priority and a long-term operational resilience issue for NBL, given structural water stress in Namibia’s central region,” management says in its interim results.
NBL says the reduction in water use was achieved through operational optimisation and technology.
The brewer is also engaging regulatory authorities and other regional water users on a longer-term framework aimed at strengthening water security in the region.
Alongside the water-saving measures, NBL has increased its use of renewable energy in its production operations.
Biomass now provides 87% of the brewery’s thermal energy requirements, while solar installations helped the company avoid 179 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during the interim period.
Together, renewable sources accounted for 91% of NBL’s total energy consumption.
The company has also reduced the amount of production waste going to landfills, with 88% of its production waste diverted from landfill through reuse, recovery or other processes.
The shift comes as NBL operates under tougher economic conditions and adjusts to the expiry of its minimum supply arrangement with Heineken Beverages South Africa.
Beer export volumes fell 38.2% during the period, contributing to a 3.9% decline in net revenue to N$2.023 billion and an operating profit of N$222 million.
Despite the decline in exports, NBL says it gained total portfolio market share in Namibia, with cider volumes increasing 15% and growth recorded in non-alcoholic products.
Management says the company’s sustainability programme forms part of its alignment with Heineken’s revised EverGreen 2030 strategy, which focuses on growth, productivity and preparing the business for future operating conditions.
The company says its contribution to Namibia extends beyond beverage production through employment, exports and excise-tax payments.
“NBL has been part of Namibia’s economic story for more than 100 years, and its contribution extends beyond the beverages it produces,” management says.
