Namibia Breweries Ltd (NBL) has bought 27 new electric Toyota forklifts with 47 First National batteries to boost its green credentials.

NBL logistics manager Abrie du Plooy told The Namibian his company was up for the renewal of its forklifts when it decided to take the opportunity to reduce its impact on the environment.

Its parent company, the Ohlthaver and List Group of Companies (O&L), has other green initiatives, including a bio-diesel project, Hangana Seafood's refuelling project, recycling initiatives and the recently announced boiler upgrade at NBL.

"With these new forklifts, we are raising the bar at NBL in terms of saving costs, reducing carbon footprint and enhancing the health and safety of our staff," du Plooy says.

NBL's old forklifts operated on gas or diesel. The company says the new forklifts are 30% more cost-effective, have zero exhaust emissions, are noiseless and also emit no heat.

"NBL has invested in a new battery room which will be home to 47 batteries as the forklifts operate 24 hours a day and more than one set of batteries is thus needed for [the] operation. The room is managed by five people and complies with health and safety standards including automatic shutting doors, showers, fire exits and the like," du Plooy explains.