Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) has announced plans to start production of beer in cans as well as in bottles. 

Since SLBL was founded in 1961, consumers have found it difficult to return and recycle the glass beer bottles. The brewery is hoping that drinks in disposable cans will take off this pressure and make consumers feel more comfortable buying “as much as they want”.

The cans will be produced on a new production line in Freetown due to be completed in September, which will be able to make 267 cans per minute This is part of an expansion project begun last year which has included upgrades to the brew house and installation of seven new fermentation tanks with the intention of doubling annual capacity. SLBL plan to be able to meet the demands of the Sierra Leonean market and be able to export to neighbouring countries. The total investment in this project so far has been more than $22.6m.

However, following revision of the Finance Act in July, taxes on imported alcoholic drinks will be cut from $4 to $1.50 per litre to discourage smuggling. This means that imported drinks will be competing with locally-produced drinks, affecting SLBL’s expansion process. It is envisaged that SLBL’s sales will drop and the second half of this year will be tough for them.

SLBL is a subsidiary of Heineken Holding NV, the second largest brewer in the world. Heineken also owns breweries in eleven countries throughout Africa. Brands of beer produced by SLBL include Nigerian Star Lager, Heineken brands Heineken Lager and Mützig Lager and Diageo’s Guiness Foreign Extra Stout.