The Danone Group is strengthening its investments in Morocco with a budget of 161 million Dirhams (MDH), which should eventually allow the creation of 120 direct jobs. To this end, it inaugurated this July 11, a Green Factory in Meknes.
Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, today inaugurated the “Green Factory” of the Centrale Danone factory in Meknes, in the presence of MM, Abdelghani Sebbar, Governor of the prefecture of Meknes, Abdelouahed El Ansari, President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, Laurent Sacchi, General Secretary of Danone and Ms. Nathalie Alquier, CEO of Centrale Danone.
This energy excellence project is part of the 2020-2024 investment agreement signed between the government and Centrale Danone, relating to the extension of production capacities, the installation of new equipment, the optimization of manufacturing processes and the launch of new finished products at the Centrale Danone industrial sites located in Meknes, Salé, El Jadida and Fqih Ben Saleh. The overall investment program amounts to 161 MDH and will ultimately allow the creation of 120 direct jobs.
At the Meknes site, the investment includes, in addition to the extension of certain production lines for dairy drinks and desserts, a major component relating to the installation of equipment and installations intended to improve the energy footprint of the factory with a dedicated investment of 17 MDH.
Operational since 1985, the Centrale Danone factory in Meknes specializes in the production of desserts, fresh cheeses and drinking yogurts. The total area of the site is 45,000 m2, of which 10,055 m2 is covered. The factory employs 212 people.
The plant is a pilot model aimed at promoting energy efficiency and decarbonization in the industrial sites of Centrale Danone in Morocco, in accordance with the Kingdom of Morocco’s clean energy promotion approach and in line with the objectives of the global program. “Re-Fuel Danone” designed to improve the energy footprint of Danone production sites around the world.
Thanks to its “Green Factory”, the Usine Centrale Danone in Meknes now achieves 52% use of renewable energies for its energy consumption, achieving in advance the national objective of increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix. of the country to 52% by 2030. The thermal energy produced on the site represents 90% of the energy from green sources.
On the occasion of this inauguration, Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Commerce and Industry, declared: “The investments undertaken by Centrale Danone bear witness to a clear strategic vision and a commitment to the promotion of clean energies. and the preservation of the environment. They also demonstrate Centrale Danone’s desire to remain at the forefront of innovation and respond to market developments through continuous improvement in the quality and diversity of the products offered. »
Laurent Sacchi, General Secretary of Danone, representing Mr. Antoine de Saint-Affrique, General Manager of Danone, declared: “We are delighted to inaugurate our first “Green Factory” in Morocco, in our factory in Meknes, to contribute to the development of renewable energies in Morocco. This pilot model illustrates our commitment to improving the energy efficiency of our industrial sites in Morocco. We would like to thank the Government of Morocco for its support, guidance and commitment to the development of a local, modern, sovereign and sustainable dairy industry”
