Beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) announced on Tuesday an ambitious investment of R2.8bn rand ($206.7m) in expansion at its South African subsidiary, South African Breweries Limited (SAB).

The upgrade which would take place at two of its breweries in Alrode and Rossylyn, will add new packaging lines for returnable glass bottles at both breweries and a brewhouse at the Rossyln plant. Each packaging line will handle 45,000 bottles per hour, adding a total of four million hectolitres of capacity per year. The endeavour will create up to 70 additional full-time jobs, the company said.

SAB and AB InBev Zone President for Africa, Ricardo Tadeu, said the continuous investment showed that the company believed in the future of its category and that there was a lot of growth still to be had.

Tadeu added that the investment demonstrated the company’s agenda to invest and participate in expanding the economy.

“This investment will empower our employees to do what they do best — brewing the best quality beer, innovating and ensuring that we do so in a way that will drive sustainable growth,” he said.

The Alrode packaging line is expected to become operational by August while Rossyln will go into production by October.