TANZANIA – Water Witness International and the Scottish government are helping Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) to mitigate water risks at the Moshi plant based on a set of rules defined by Water Witness International (WWI), a research and advocacy charity which works for sustainable and equitable water resource management.

SBL Sustainability and Responsibility Manager, Ms Hawa Ladha, says implementation of the project has already started, adding that her company was benefiting from the support because it was a subsidiary of Diageo.  

The latter, the Scottish government and Water Wittiness International have an association called Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The alliance, she explains, is dedicated “to promoting the responsible use of freshwater, through water stewardship system that drives, recognises and rewards improved water stewardship performance.”

According to the manager, the support will help the Moshi plant not only manage water risks but also manage supply-chain and catchment level and advance the practice of water stewardship in Africa.  

Further, Ms Ladha stresses and identifies collaboration priorities to address water risk in the wider supply chain.  The initiative will advance the practice of water stewardship in Africa, and further establish Diageo as a leading actor in water stewardship.

 The alliance’s actions, she explains, are based on an international standard called the International Water Stewardship Standard (AWS Standard), adding that implementation of the   standard will help Diageo and SBL manage  water risks at Moshi, supply-chain and catchment level and identify collaboration priorities to address water risks in the wider supply chain. 

Ms Ladha explains that Diageo, as a drinks company, understands that water is an essential resource, and that its careful management is a top business priority.  As such, she says, Diageo has developed a strategic approach to water stewardship – the Diageo Water Blueprint. 

 The importance of the blueprint, she explains, is that   Diageo is committed to increasing efforts to address global water challenges within its own operations, in souring of raw materials, in the communities in which its companies operate, and through local and global advocacy.

She says that the Moshi plant is one of Diageo’s 47 global sites located within water-stressed areas.  

It is the second largest beer company in Tanzania.  And according to Ms Ladha, SLB’s own brands accounting for 15 per cent of the market by volume and when combined with East African Breweries Limited’s portfolio, accounts for approximately 28 per cent of Tanzania’s branded beer sector.

 The manager says Water Witness International is a founder member of the AWS, adding that “it leads the strategic and technical application of water stewardship across Africa, and is an accredited trainer and advisor on the standard.”

Highlighting the relevance of the effort, Ms Ladha says the initiative will advance the practice of water stewardship in Tanzania and Africa, “and further establish Diageo as a leading actor in water stewardship.”

The Chief Strategy Officer of Water Witness International, Mr. Scott MacCready, said when he toured the plant, “Sustainable use of water resources should be advocated.”

The Moshi plant Environment Manager, Evance Komu, said the system the plant uses ensures sustainability of water usage and safety to surrounding neighbourhoods.

“We conform to international standards and national standards set by Moshi Urban Water and Sanitation Authority,” he said.

SBL, headquartered in Dar es Salaam, was incorporated in 1988 as Associated Breweries Limited and changed its name to Serengeti Breweries Limited in 2002.

The previous owners and management of SBL acquired the company in 2002 and commenced on a strategy of rapid expansion, which has resulted in outstanding growth. EABL acquired 51% of the issued share capital of SBL in October 2010.

The manager describes Moshi SBL’s state-of-the-art brewery, which was commissioned in January 2012, as having a 500,000 HL capacity, which is expandable to 800,000 HL.

SBL also has three operating plants in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza.  The Dar es Salaam plant’s capacity is 350,000 HL while the Mwanza plant’s capacity is 650,000 HL.

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol “with iconic brands in spirits, beer and win,” according to the manager.  The brands are produced from more than 150 sites in over 30 countries.  

The WWI has what is known as the Fair Water Futures Programme that has won funding from the Scottish Government to support the promotion and uptake of the AWS Standard in East Africa. 

Ms Ladha explains that in addition to supporting Diageo in the implementation of the AWS Standard, WWI will be hosting an AWS training event in Moshi in early 2016 “to advance water stewardship in the region, to be attended by participants from business, government, and civil society.”

 The SBL Director General, Ms Helene Weesie, says: “We are excited to be partners of Water Witness International on this project because water is so important to our brewery and our supply chain. 

“The implementation of the standard will help us improve both water efficiencies in our brewery and identify opportunities to address water issues in the wider catchment.”

December 12, 2015; http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=87007