Producing bio-fuel at Greencore ‘viable’

BIO-FUEL production at the former Greencore plant in Mallow, Co Cork, is viable, according to a report carried out by Cork County Council published yesterday.

The report says that bio-Ethanol production is possible at the site, if government policies are tailored to facilitate it.

The council concludes that it could be a realistic venture. It suggested that farmers should be encouraged to enter the bio-fuel market and that start-up costs should be defrayed.

The report estimates that the cost of buying the plant will be between €80 million and €100m, compared to the estimated e130m it would cost to turn the plant into a greenfield site.

Fine Gael’s east Cork Senator Paul Bradford said his party’s policies would ensure that bio-fuel production at the site would be possible.

“However, revolutionary yet workable policies are needed and Fine Gael has outlined these in our energy document,” he said.

Mr Bradford said Fine Gael would legislate for all petrol sold to include a 5% bio-ethanol mix, to remove all excise duty on bio fuels made from renewable crops and provide financial help to farmers.

The Greencore sugar plant closed last May with the loss of 253 full-time jobs and 81 seasonal jobs.