Coca-Cola has commissioned a new US$5.7mn plastic bottling production line at its existing factory in Monrovia, Liberia
The Coca-Cola Bottling Company’s first PET bottling line will start production immediately. It will expand Coca-Cola’s beverages to include more convenient plastic bottles for brands like Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, as well as water. It will also serve as a regional export hub for Sierra Leone and Guinea. An estimated 7,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created over the next five years across Coca-Cola’s locally sourced supply-chain of distributors, retailers and material suppliers.
“The newly dedicated plant has the capacity to produce 6,000 plastic bottles per hour,” said Seth Adu, country manager for Liberia at Coco-Cola Bottling Company. He added that the company is contemplating producing juices of various kinds in addition to aerated soft drink products.
The new production line was officially commissioned by Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She also launched Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s five new Water Health Centres that will provide clean and safe drinking water access to more than 61,000 Liberians.
Noting that Coca-Cola had stayed in Liberia even through periods of interruption and contraction in the economy, she urged the beverages giant to bring a juice manufacturing plant to the country. She expressed hope that the plant would meet domestic demand for juices, and would also export to other countries.
