Farm, business groups to meet over plan for sugar and ethanol plant

FARM and business groups are conducting a feasibility study into a €400m twin-track sugar and ethanol plant, with the midlands as the most likely location.

Interested parties are meeting in the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow, Co Cork, at 8pm next Tuesday. Local Fine Gael Cllr Tom Barry is inviting farmers to sign a register, expressing a willingness to grow beet if the plant were to get the green light.

Originally scheduled for tonight, the meeting has been put back a week due to hazardous driving conditions. Attendees will hear the views of experts, including Prof Jim Burke, head of Teagasc Oak Park, president of the Irish Bioenergy Association Dr Tom Bruton and entrepreneurial farmer Alan Navratil.