SA packaging giant moves into Botswana

Part of the company's Rigid Plastics business, Nampak Liquid will produce HDPE bottles mainly for the dairy and fruit-juice industries. Other sectors to be serviced by the new plant are producers of industrial chemicals and household cleaners.

The plastics division decided to establish a liquid packaging plant in Botswana because its base business reached a point where the volumes warranted the R7 million infrastructure investment. Once established and catering for the needs of the local market, it's envisaged that the plant could supply HDPE bottles to export markets, such as Namibia, Zimbabwe and even some regions in South Africa.

The plant has three lines and will initially be managed by a South African technical expert, Jannie Francis. However, the company is committed to empowering local people and through the process of skills transfer, it's anticipated that the plant will be completely resourced by Botswana in a relatively short space of time. The start-up team was trained in South Africa.

The decision to establish a liquid packaging plant in Botswana has been welcomed by the company's local customers, who previously relied on imports. Now that there's an in-country plant, they can expect improved service levels, enhanced stock holding capability, and more cost-effective products.

According to Nampak Rigid Plastics MD, Philip de Weerdt, the move to invest in Botswana is closely aligned with the group's Africa growth strategy and signals the beginning of what will be a long-term partnership with the people of Botswana.

'As we grow in the market, we'll continue to invest in the economy. The Rigid Plastics business manufactures a diverse range of plastic products and we'd like to see what other packaging solutions can be produced locally in the future,' said Weerdt.

The company has operations in a number of African countries, including Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is hoped that the Botswana presence will be a springboard to other markets across the continent.