By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Zambian Breweries (ZB) has increased the production capacity of its alcoholic beverages to one million hectolitres at its Ndola plant following the investment of US$30 million dollars.
The plant has increased production from 750,000 to 1.750 million hectolitres per annum.
ZB head of corporate communications Ezekiel Sekele said the company invested $30 million into a new production line that was producing one million hectolitres per annum.
Mr Sekele said ZB increased production at the plant  to sustain the growing demand of its products in the region.
“In the previous year, demand had outstripped supply, this led the board of directors to approve the $30 million investment into new production line to increase production and sustain the growing demand,” he said.
Mr Sekele was speaking during the shareholders and media open day in Ndola last Friday.
He said Eagle Iager had received overwhelming demand on the market following the induction of cassava in the beverage.
Mr Sekele said the market for Eagle lager had tripled in the last one year and projected that it would soon be at the same level with Mosi.
He said Eagle lager was  an  important brand because it was empowering cassava farmers in Luapula Province.
Mr Sekele said the company was empowering more than 2,000 small-scale cassava farmers in Mansa and this year it was targeting to buy 35,000 tonnes of the crop.
The company is working on introducing non alcohol and low alcohol beverage to respond to the needs of customers.
He said the company would possibly next year introduce the Zero alcohol and three per cent alcohol beverage in its brands.