BioAmber, a renewable chemistry company, announced that it will construct a new biobased succinic acid facility in Sarnia, Ontario. This is the company’s first North American plant and the facility will be commissioned in 2013.
The Sarnia plant will have a production capacity of 17,000 Mt. The company currently manufactures and markets from its facility in France.
BioAmber has planned to double Sarnia plant’s production capacity by 2014. In addition, the company has intended to produce 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) in the facility using DuPont’s technology that changes succinic acid to BDO. The main aim of BioAmber is to enhance the capacity of the Ontario facility to produce 23,000 Mt of biobased BDO and 35,000 Mt of biosuccinic acid.
Succinic acid, a non-toxic and renewable specialty chemicals, are used to produce a variety of products, including plastics, salts that melt snow and ice, engine coolants, phthalate-free plasticizers, construction materials, cosmetics, ingredients for food, biodegradable coffee cup lids and automotive components.
BioAmber has chosen Sarnia for its new facility as the location has great potential for sustainable chemistry. Additionally, the distinctive combination of competitive transportation costs, educational facilities, skilled labor, chemical infrastructure and closeness to the richest resources has made Sarnia, the ideal choice for the biosuccinic acid plant. Ministries and agencies in Ontario and Canada have shown their support to BioAmber’s project by offering CAD $35 million in terms of funds and loans.