Namibia’s OPN abattoir and tannery diversifies
Ostrich Production Namibia (OPN) on Monday implemented its new diversification plan, with the company carrying out its first sheep slaughterings. The move away from the sole production of ostrich products has been adopted in an attempt to generate more business and to become more economically viable.
Although the company has invested N$21 million ($3.2 million) in upgrading the abattoir and tannery, the facility is working well below capacity, slaughtering a mere 22,000 ostriches, whilst having the capacity to slaughter some 90,000. But with the diversification plan, the company intends to increase ostrich slaughter to 30,000, whilst adding 270,000 livestock and 25,000 game animals to its production statistics, in an attempt to increase the viability of the plant and meet operational expenses.
Situated some 20 kilometres outside of Keetmanshoop, the OPN facility is hoping that, with the introduction of livestock, that local farmers will use the domestic company, and will no longer export their livestock to
