Abu Thiyab Holdings plans to start bottling purified water in September 2011 with an investment of ETP35m ($2m).
The construction of the plant is being finalised on a three-hectare plot in Gelan Town, Addis Abeba.
Abu Thiyab general manager Ahmed Hassen said once operations commence in September, the company plans to produce 4,500 bottles per hour for 24 hours in three shifts, which will allow to produce 27 million bottles annually.
Once the plant becomes operational, Abu Thiyab plans to manufacture 1.5l, 2.5l, and 25l plastic bottles of purified water sourced from underground around the factory’s site.
"We plan to initially produce the water for local consumption, but eventually export it to neighbouring countries and Gulf States," Hassen said.
Going forward, the company also plans to open a juice production facility inside the plant. The plant is Abu Thiyab Holdings’ first investment outside of Saudi.