Windhoek:Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has announced a significant investment of approximately N$13 million over the next five years to enhance water security in the Swakop River Basin. This initiative follows a Memorandum of Agreement signed with WWF Namibia and Global Water Challenge (GWC).
According to Namibia Press Agency , the Swakop Basin Collective Action Project, also known as the NBL Water Balancing Project, will be operational from 2026 to 2030. The project, implemented by WWF Namibia in collaboration with GWC and the City of Windhoek, aims to generate annual water benefits of about 386 million litres, equivalent to over 150 Olympic-sized swimming pools, by 2030.
The project will focus on restoring or improving the management of 153 hectares of land through interventions like managed aquifer recharge and nature-based solutions to enhance groundwater replenishment and water quality. Additionally, invasive alien plants will be removed from riverbeds, and a Sub-Basin Water Allocation and Abstraction Plan will be developed.
Waldemar von Lieres, NBL's Managing Director, highlighted the company's previous investments of over N$35 million since 2015 to reduce its water footprint. He stated that the new commitment to the Water Balancing Project extends their investment to benefit the shared basin. NBL aims to decrease its water usage from 3.56 litres to 2.4 litres per litre of product by 2030 as part of its Brew a Better Namibia 2030 strategy.
Executive Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Theofilus Nghitila emphasized the importance of partnerships in tackling shared water challenges. He praised NBL, WWF Namibia, and GWC for their collaborative efforts to support water security and ecosystem health.
GWC's Senior Water Stewardship Director Malick Keith noted that the project builds on existing collaborations with WWF Namibia and Coca-Cola in the region. Juliane Zeidler, WWF Namibia Country Director, expressed that current investments in the basin will allow partners to tackle water challenges at their source, ensuring water supply to communities and industries in central Namibia.