Coca-Cola Bottling Company on Tuesday announced the official opening of its world-class bottling facility in Matola Gare, near Maputo, Mozambique.

The plant, built over three years at a cost of $130-million, is the largest green-field facility in Coca-Cola Sabco’s history across its seven-country regional market in Africa.

The plant’s 300-ml glass bottling line – capable of bottling 48 000 bottles an hour – is the largest bottling line in Sabco’s regional footprint that includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

In a statement, Coca-Cola Sabco said the opening of the bottling facility was part of the company’s ongoing investment in world-class manufacturing capabilities on the African continent.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi said Coca-Cola was one of the first global companies to invest in the country after independence.

"Its investment in job creation and the growth of skills in Mozambique is testament to the company’s commitment to assisting us grow the economy of the country. We would like to congratulate Coca-Cola on the opening of this technologically advanced bottling plant," Nyusi said at the inauguration of the plant.

Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company, said the company had been investing in Africa for almost 90 years and was present in every African country with more than 70 000 employees across 145 bottling and canning facilities.

"We have continued to increase investment in our business in Africa with $17-billion committed across our system for investments in distribution, infrastructure, manufacturing and marketing during this decade," Kent said.

Coca-Cola said the Matola Gare site combines operations from two other sites in Maputo – Distribudora and Machava – with the aim of increasing operational efficiencies.

Coca-Cola Sabco is 80 percent owned by Gutsche Family Investments and its headquarters are in Port Elizabeth.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices.