Sugar beet could become Eastern Cape’s ‘oil’ find

Well suited for production of ethanol ED RICHARDSON WHILE YEARS of prospecting underground for oil have yielded little in the Eastern Cape, the province’s potential as an energy supplier lies on the surface – in its rich agricultural potential. The results from the first commercial trials of sugar beet have proved to be promising so far. Some 200 hectares of commercial farmland in the Cradock area is being used for the first commercial trials of sugar beet, where crop is being grown under real farming conditions. “So far the crop has shown itself to be hardy and reliable and results appear to be extremely promising,” says Mike Hendrikse, spokesperson of Sugar Beet SA. If the results prove to be successful the Eastern Cape can look forward to greater investment and the possibility of jobs. Biofuel production is one of the projects being considered for the East London IDZ. “While the beet could be used as a new source of sugar, this would necessitate the building of a large processing and production factory at a cost of over a billion rand,” says Hendrikse. But he warns that world sugar prices are vulnerable to large fluctuations. “It is therefore logical – especially in view of the substantial increase in world oil prices – that sugar beet when grown commercially would be better suited to the production of ethanol as part of the SA government’s biofuels policy,” he said. Hendrikse says that talks with government and various agencies are progressing towards an agreement. “At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further, but Sugar Beet SA is confident that sugar beet will play a role in the future economy of the region,” he says. East London is moving forward to take a proactive stance on biofuels. Discussing the high energy costs in the executive director’s report for Business Hi-lite’s September 2006 edition, Les Holbrook of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business says that South Africa can do something about the rising energy costs. “We are already able to supply approximately 30% of our energy needs. By placing a focused and strategic emphasis on bio fuels, we could possibly change that percentage to 50% in 10 years,” he says. Holbrook says that in the next 12 months the Chamber will collaborate with the stakeholders and particularly the East London Industrial Development Zone to proactively support initiatives towards bio fuels.