The Managing Director of Champion Breweries, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Patrick Ejidoh, has said that not less than N1 billion is being spent by the company annually on diesel to provide electricity for its operations.
He said that surviving manufacturing companies in the country also spend much on power while this not only impacts on their profitability but also on the final cost of the products. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported.
Ejidoh made the disclosure in Uyo while interacting with executive members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Akwa Ibom state chapter.
He lamented that epileptic power supply in the country has forced factory owners to resort to self-help in the area electricity generation to sustain their businesses.
“I spend N2 million daily to fuel the generators providing electricity to the plant. In one year of 365 days, we spend over N700,000,000.00 fueling the generators and spend over N300,000,000 on maintenance.
” I will be happy if PHED would accept N.5billion annually to provide UA with constant power that would definitely reduce the production cost. But we cannot depend on public power supply because of frequent fluctuation.” He said.
The Managing Director lamented the inflationary trend in the country which he said has affected the cost importation of raw materials.
He said that the high cost of doing business in the country is frustrating adding that the government tax system does not give room for business growth.
“Sometimes our trucks have to ply the roads at nights to avoid double taxation which is very frustrating. Every local government on the routes wants to collect one form of tax or the other”. He lamented
He, however, expressed joy that despite economic and fiscal constraints the company has been able to sustain its production lines while it has also continued to expand the scope of its corporate social responsibility.
He commended correspondents of national newspapers in the state for their interest in the growth and affairs of the company and promised to partner with the chapel for mutual benefits.
Champion Breweries, established in 1974 has undergone several ownerships, structural and physical changes and is currently using its production lines for the manufacture of the Champion Lager, Legend Stout, Champ Malter and Amstel Malta brands.
