Carlsberg, Harp, Hop House 13, Kilkenny, Rockshore and Smithwick’s would be brewed at the facility if it's approved.
Beverage alcohol company Diageo has announced plans to invest €200 million in Ireland’s first purpose-built carbon-neutral brewery in Kildare.
In a
statement on Friday, the company that owns Guinness revealed the new facility would be located on a greenfield site in Littleconnell in Newbridge and that it would brew lagers and ales including Carlsberg, Harp, Hop House 13, Kilkenny, Rockshore and Smithwick’s.
Diageo said that when fully operational with a capacity of two million hectolitres, it will be the second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St. James’s Gate and support the future growth of Diageo Ireland’s beer brands.
The company also stated that the brewery will be powered with 100% renewable energy and will "harness the latest process technology" to minimise overall energy and water consumption, enabling it to avoid up to 15,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.
Additionally, Diageo said that the transferring of the production of lagers and ales to the new facility will enable St James’s Gate to increase the production of Guinness to meet global demand.
The company will submit a planning application to Kildare County Council in September this year and, if successful, plans to commence brewing in 2024 following a construction period of around two years.
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Diageo's Category Head of Global Beer Supply said Friday was "a landmark day" for Diageo in Ireland.
"Our plans for a new, state-of-the-art brewery in Kildare, and the developments at St. James’s Gate, will enable growth in overall beer exports from Ireland," he added.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the creation of the brewery will lead to many new jobs.
“This €200m investment by Diageo is really great news for the future development of Ireland’s thriving food and drink industry, and also for the wider national economy," he said.
"It’s also extremely positive for Newbridge and the local economy in Kildare, with up to 1,000 jobs being created during the construction of the site, and 50 once built. I’m sure there will be many indirect jobs too.
“We must leave the planet in a better way than we found it. Industry has a role to play and I’m really pleased to see Diageo taking the lead and investing in this carbon-neutral brewery, which I’m sure will be a leading example for others.”
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