Heineken has agreed to transfer ownership of its brewery in Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, to a Mauritian company for €1 after losing operational control of the site earlier this year, the Dutch brewer said on Wednesday.
The facility will be handed over to Synergy Ventures Holdings Ltd by the end of the year, according to Heineken’s statement.
The company said the decision was guided by “a humanitarian objective to safeguard jobs and livelihoods, maintain vital community services, and prevent misuse of the facility in a volatile security environment.”
Eastern Congo has been engulfed in conflict, with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launching a major offensive this year. The group seized Goma in January before moving into Bukavu in February. The violence has killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands to flee. Rwanda denies backing the rebels.
In June, Heineken announced that armed personnel had taken control of its sites in Bukavu and other parts of the region. The Bukavu operations previously supported about 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Under the new arrangement, Synergy Ventures will take full responsibility for running the brewery, ensuring employee safety, and meeting tax obligations.
Heineken will retain a buyback option for three years should security conditions improve sufficiently to resume viable operations. The brewer’s Congolese subsidiary, Bralima, continues to operate in regions unaffected by the conflict.
