Revived Irish sugar sector could create 5,000 jobs, says study

A REVIVAL of the sugar sector could sustain up to 5,000 jobs, according to a feasibility study produced by an expert industry group and verified by PWC.

The report suggests that a dual sugar and ethanol plant, probably located in Kilkenny, would be profitable from its first year. The €350m start-up cost would be 30% funded by investors and 70% via bank loans, to be repaid within 15 years.

PWC’s calculations verify the profitability analysis of the Irish Sugar Beet Bio-Refinery Group (ISBRG), an expert group including former senior executives in Irish Sugar and Greencore, scientists in Teagasc and University College Dublin and farmers. The study was part-funded by Carlow County Enterprise Board.