Bottoms up for Namibian logistics

A number of Namibian logistics companies, together with the port of Walvis Bay, are toasting the news that SABMiller Namibia is to build a US $34 million (R250-million) brewery outside Okahandja city, 70 kilometres north of Windhoek. It will be one of the biggest construction projects in the country. Construction of plants like the brewery, which will use mainly imported components, is helping put a froth on earnings for the Namibian freight industry – including trucking companies, shippers, and clearing and forwarding agents. Construction of the 220 000 hectolitre capacity brewery is expected to start in the second half of 2010. More good news for Namibian truckers is that it will include a returnable bottle packaging line and warehousing facilities. It will produce the Castle and Castle Lite brands. The construction of the plant will see changes to SABMiller’s logistics operations in Namibia.