South African Breweries cancels R2.5 billion in plant upgrades due to alcohol ban

04-08-2020
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Fin24
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South African Breweries has pulled the plug on billions of rands in planned operational investments in South Africa due to the impact of the alcohol ban.

On Monday, the Ab InBev-owned alcohol producer announced it had cancelled R2.5 billion in capital and infrastructure upgrades for 2020 and is reviewing another R2.5 billion for 2021.

"The cancellation of this planned expenditure is a direct consequence of having lost (as at 3 August 2020) 12 full trading weeks, which effectively equates to some 30% of the SAB’s annual production," said South African Breweries' (SAB’s) Vice President of Finance, Andrew Murray, in a statement.

Alcohol sales were prohibited as part of the country’s initial lockdown that started in late March. The ban was later relaxed, but was reintroduced in mid-July following a rise in trauma cases.

Murray said the cancelled investments include upgrades to operating facilities and systems, as well as the installation of new equipment at selected plants.

SAB said 120 000 people in South Africa's alcohol industry risk losing their jobs due to the ban. It added that the initial ban had cost the state about R12 billion in lost taxes.

The state meanwhile, has said the ban is necessary to keep SA's hospitals free from trauma victims as Covid-19 cases rise.

SAB is not the only alcohol producer to put its plans for upgrades on hold in light of the ban. Beer producer Heinken confirmed to Fin24 on Monday afternoon that it has also put plans for a R6 billion expansion in Durban on hold. The expansion was meant to create 400 jobs.