Heineken holds off new multi-billion rand KZN project
The world's second-largest brewer is now thinking twice about going ahead with plans to expand the company's footprint in KwaZulu-Natal.
Dutch brewing giant, Heineken had wanted to get a new multi-billion rand brewery up and running on the North Coast.
But the company says business has taken a big knock, due to COVID-19 forcing it to reassess the project at iNyaninga near Dube TradePort.
Heineken SA's Millicent Maroga says the new production facility would have created work for hundreds of people.
She says approximately 117 000 jobs have been lost in the industry.
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Countless businesses that rely on them have had to close their doors or scale down operations following the unexpected announcement by government to suspend alcohol sales.
Maroga says some one million people are at risk of losing their livelihoods.
"Heineken is not shutting down as widely reported. However, due to the tough economic climate, we find ourselves in and the additional strain brought on by the ban on the sale of alcohol.
"We have put some plans on hold and this includes the brewery in Durban.
"The ban on alcohol sales have affected our business resulting in cost-cutting measures to protect the jobs of more than 900 people have we employ." says Maroga.
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