BrazilSLR Consulting to help AB InBev Namibia with sustainability project
Global environmental and advisory firm SLR Consulting Namibia has secured a partnership with AB InBev to collaboratively conduct a hydrogeological investigation of a section of the Swakop River. The study is aimed at measuring groundwater levels and the potential impact of abstraction.
Beverage manufacturer AB InBev is engaged in efforts across the globe to meet its 2025 sustainability goals, which aim to support rural segments of the population across the globe with more advanced agricultural techniques in addition to othe green measures such as circular packaging and water stewardship.
In line with these efforts, the firm has now signed a memorandum of understanding with the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry with the aim of promoting water sustainability in the country. To help with these efforts, the firm has secured the support of SLR Environmental Consulting.
Based in the UK, SLR is a specialist environmental consulting firm that offers services in a range of domains, including power, built environment, mining & minerals, infrastructure, industry as well as oil & gas. The firm will conduct a study of the Swakop River, specifically the section between the S. Von Bach and the Swakoppoort dams.
Commenting on the partnership, Managing Director at AB InBev Namibia and Botswana Renaud Beauchamp said, “We brew our beers at the highest level of water efficiency and we continually challenge ourselves to do even more. That is why we are looking beyond our own operations and improving high-risk watersheds in the areas where we operate.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Percy Misika added, “We have a water situation where we need to ensure that every drop of water in Namibia counts and to do what we need to utilize all the water sources that we have and find additional sources in order to ensure water supply security for all Namibians. That is why this study is important, to help us identify whether we have additional water resources in this area and if so, what the quantity and quality is and how much of it can be abstracted without depleting the resource.”
The move comes at a time when AB InBev is rapidly expanding its operations across Africa. The brewers recently renewed a contract with global management consultancy Accenture to digitally optimise its sales and distribution operations not only in Namibia, but also in Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and Zambia.
