The Hungarian sugar producer plans to invest HUF 50 million (EUR 183,000) - HUF 100 million (EUR 367,000) into the experiment to burn sugar beet residue at its plant in western Hungary. The biogas operation may replace the company’s full natural gas consumption.

Magyar Cukor Rt is part of Austrias Agrana Group. AGRANA Zucker GmbH has a total of 11 sugar factories, three in Austria - located in Hohenau, Leopoldsdorf and Tulln (all in Lower Austria) - and two factories each in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania. That makes 11 sugar factories in all.

If the experiment is successful, Magyar Cukor Rt may build more and bigger biogas-fueled plants with a total planned investment of HUF 2 billion (EUR 7.35 million) - HUF 2.5 billion (EUR 9.19 million). The project could become profitable in five years, announced the deputy CTO of the company.