New mini brewery within the Mall of Mauritius

The Ministry of Environment has granted an environment impact assessment to ANOC Ltd for the setting up of an artisanal mini brewery within the Mall of Mauritius complex at Bagatelle. 

The mini brewery offers a new concept to visitors as the latter will have the opportunity to watch the whole process of brewing before enjoying their drink. The mini brewery is expected to be operational in October this year. 

The maximum beer production is 115,000 litres per year. This represents around 3% of the total beer production in Mauritius. ANOC Ltd will not be operating at full capacity outright. 

A market survey by the company has revealed that the demand for the new beer will be 68,000 litres a year. The micro brewery project, which will be built on an area of land of 546 square metres, will also contain a restaurant proposing Mauritian cuisine including dishes cooked in seasonal fruit beer. 

Accoring to ANOC Ltd, this project is in line with the government’s vision to attract two million tourists as from 2012. “Focusing solely on the construction of additional hotel accommodation to attract more tourists, although being a laudable initiative, will not be an adequate incentive”, wrote ANOC Ltd in its submission for an EIA licence in October 2010. 

The company further stated that the micro brewery is comparable to the agricultural rum distillery of Rhumerie Chamarel and Rhumerie Saint-Aubin where tourists and locals get to see how the product is made and have the opportunity to consume on the spot. 

ANOC Ltd also states that the project entails more benefits. “It will provide full-time employment for 90 people and many indirect jobs,” says the EIA licence submission.

By Nilen Kattany