OREANDA-NEWS. ASTARTA's sugar plants successfully started sugar production campaign. Zhdanivsky and Narkevychi sugar plants (Vinnytsya and Kharkiv regions), which were first to start production campaign, so far processed 50 thousand tones of sugar beet. The rest sugar plants are under way. Due to high quality of sugar beet management of the company is very optimistic about results of this campaign. At this moment sugar content in sugar beet is higher y-o-y. Following energy efficiency programs and pursuing highest standards in environmental protection, ASTARTA continued undertaking of measures directed on reduction of natural gas, coal, limestone and fresh water consumption which, as well, corresponds with obligations taken by the Group in agreements with international financial organizations. Moreover a new modern biogas complex at Globyno sugar plant will operate at full capacity providing for use of alternative energy sources on different production assets of the Group.

At the same time, quality of the products is a top priority of the management. Almost all sugar plants are certified according to international standards. Five sugar plants are certified according to the requirements of ISO 14001 "Environmental Management" and three sugar plants have FSSC 22000 certificates. Along with this, occupational safety management system is being implementing according to OHSAS 18001.