The new brewhouse project currently underway at Simonds Farsons Cisk plc was this morning visited by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.

Construction work on the €12.5 million brewhouse started in July 2010 and also includes a new malt handling tower, storage for raw materials, rain water reservoir, quality control laboratories, and offices for technical staff.

The new brewhouse will provide state-of-the-art technology to further improve the current brewing process and aims to be more efficient and versatile, leading to further improvements in product quality and decreased production costs.

The project also incorporates energy saving measures namely energy recovery systems, natural ventilation and energy saving lighting. Savings are also expected from automated malt handling and better yields.

The plant includes silos for malt storage, malt intake and discharge, malt milling, five main brewing vessels and wort cooling, in-place cleaning system, water tank pumps, instrumentation and an automation system.

The plant is being installed by Krones, a leading global supplier of plant equipment specialising in the beverage industry, whilst the construction, internal and external finishes, and building services, are being carried out by local contractors.

Most of the equipment was delivered to the site last month and it is currently being installed.

The old brewhouse is being transformed into a visitors centre.

Farsons Group chairman Louis Farrugia said the indications were that the project would be completed on time and within budget.

"The project management team responsible for this project is made up of in house experts who are Maltese nationals and this makes us even more proud of our achievements," he said

The project is scheduled to be completed in May.