Ethanol production an outlet for beet growers
As matters stand, she said Irish Sugar Ltd has arrangements in place to process the full Irish sugar quota at its Mallow plant, which has been upgraded for that purpose.
“The question of establishing a bioethanol plant based on sugar beet would be a matter for commercial decision,” she told Cork East Fine Gael TD David Stanton in a written reply. Minister Coughlan said it will be a matter for beet growers and Irish Sugar to make decisions about sugar beet growing in Ireland in light of the reformed sugar regime, which will come into effect from July 1, 2006, and provides a range of options.
