Recent severe weather caused a “slight delay” in wrapping up the construction of the Origin Materials biochemical manufacturing facility in Sarnia, company officials say.
“Barring any further unforeseen circumstances, Origin expects the plant to be mechanically complete in January,” the California-based company reported in a news release.
“All equipment necessary for completion is on site and will be installed once current weather conditions grant.”
Work to commission the manufacturing plant has begun, and company officials said work is anticipated to be finished by the end of the first quarter of the year, with startup beginning shortly after.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley described Origin Materials as “a graduate” of the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park and Lambton College, both of which played a role in the company’s development and the decision to locate its first plant in Sarnia.
“The college and the park were key players in assisting them with their growth,” he said. “It’s very important for us, and we feature it in the success story of the park and the college.”
The facility, which will use biomass such as sawdust to make building-block chemicals for the manufacturing of plastic and other products, is being built in an industrial park at the Arlanxeo site on Vidal Street.
Origin Materials previously said construction at the Sarnia site was expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
Formed in 2008, Origin Materials selected Sarnia as the site of its first commercial manufacturing site.
The company said the plant is expected to convert about 25,000 tonnes of biomass into materials that include chloromethylfurfural, which can be used in packaging, textiles, automotive and other uses, and hydrothermal carbon, which is used in fuel pellets and as a replacement for carbon black.
Origin Materials has said the Sarnia facility cost between $125 million and $130 million to build and is expected to employ about 50 workers once it’s operating.
The company is also planning to build a larger manufacturing facility in Louisiana.