ASMARA, 21 Aug 2003 (IRIN) - A private company in Eritrea has begun producing totally pure drinking water, which is expected to save the country over one million dollars a year and create new job opportunities.

Asmerom Russom, the owner of the factory at Mainefhi, some 20 km from the capital Asmara, told IRIN that the plant was producing 1,000 bottles an hour of pure water, devoid of any gas compound which means it can be drunk by children.

The factory, named 'Mai-liham pure water production', is expected to replace imported bottled water from western and Arab countries, thereby reducing hard currency expenditure by almost half, Asmerom said. "Our factory will save over one million US dollars a year," he stressed.

He added that the factory had also opened up over 100 job opportunities, which would be worked in three shifts.

Currently, one litre of imported water in Eritrea costs almost one US dollar. Asmerom said the price of his water would vary between 0.48 to 0.60 US cents a litre, depending on the size of the bottles.

"Taking into account the fact that only 10 percent of Eritreans have access to pure water, the contribution of this factory to our consumers will be vitally important," Asmerom pointed out.

"Ninety five percent of the ingredients necessary for producing the water are available here in the country," he added. The main source of water is only one kilometre from the factory.