Agroferment Kft, a company owned by Hungarian investors, plans to build 10 bio-fertilizer plants throughout the country.
The plants, to be built as franchises, have already been approved by the Hungarian Agriculture Ministry, said Istvan Ugrai, manager of Agroferment.
Construction of the first plant, in Mezo-komarom, in southwest Hungary, began in August, and production could start later next year.
The next plant will be built in Fuzesgyarmat, in southwest Hungary, after the necessary permits are obtained, and another two towns have already been picked as locations for a further two plants. Some 40 towns have expressed interest in the remaining six plants, Ugrai said. All of the plants are expected to be operational by 2008.
The plants will be operated by companies that local governments, which will provide the sites and infrastructure, own minority stakes.
The plants will annually process 50,000 tons of manure and organic waste each, turning them into 25,000 tons of bio-fertilizer. Each of the plants is expected to employ between 50 and 60 workers.
Agroferment is already planning a similar-size network of plants in the Republic of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and has even set up project companies in these countries, according to the company.
Because of the European Union’s (EU’s) campaign to decrease the use of artificial fertilizers, Agroferment’s business plan has attracted interest in Austria, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark, Ugrai said.
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