Gov’t plans to step up reliance on beets for sugar production

The government is planning to increase its reliance on beets instead of water-intensive sugarcane for commercial sugar production, Egyptian Sugar and Integrated Industries Co. CEO Mohamed Abdel Rehim tells Al Mal. Transforming sugar factories to accommodate this new change in direction could cost up to EGP 3 bn, Abdel Rahim said, adding that the government is currently conducting a cost-benefit study on the issue.