By: Norman De Bono
ST. THOMAS – The area welcomed its newest manufacturing employer last Thursday, along with a $670-million cheque from Premier Doug Ford.
Ford visited St. Thomas to greet Vianode, a Norwegian company that produces synthetic graphite, and announced its $3.2-billion investment. According to chief executive Burkhard Straube, the plant is expected to create 300 jobs when it starts production in 2028, with potential growth to 1,000 positions as operations expand.
Currently, Western electric vehicle battery makers source all their graphite from Asia. This new facility will help make the supply chain independent, which could attract North America’s EV industry to St. Thomas.
“Ontario and Canada have built an impressive auto supply chain, including an ecosystem for lithium-ion batteries,” Straube stated.
“Our investment here in St. Thomas will solve Western, Ontario and Canada challenges and build a resilient supply chain for the G7 in critical minerals, closing the gap in the automotive and EV value chain.”
This marks Vianode’s first facility in North America and will be the largest synthetic-graphite plant in “the Western world,” according to Straube.
The plant is set to produce around 150,000 tonnes of graphite annually-enough for over two million electric vehicles-and will also focus on other industries like nuclear energy, defense, and steelmaking.
“We are here to celebrate another critical investment,” said Premier Doug Ford.
He described the forthcoming jobs as “life-changing careers” that would support “tens of thousands” more positions across mining, battery manufacturing, research, transportation and advanced-manufacturing fields.
Vianode is based in Oslo and was established in 2021; it has a supply agreement with GM in the U. S., but not yet with Power Co-the Volkswagen-owned EV battery factory being built in St. Thomas.
“This is generational change,” remarked St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston. “We create jobs so people can stay in our community and buy homes here. We view the whole region as a development area.”
Provincial Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli noted that funding for Vianode will come as a loan and called this plant an essential part of Ontario’s EV strategy.
“It is a significant piece,” Fedeli said. “The first synthetic-graphite maker in Canada is an important addition to Ontario’s lithium-ion strategy.”
The province recently approved a lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay and announced a $500-million investment aimed at processing critical minerals in Northern Ontario.
Ontario has drawn $110 billion worth of foreign investments; over 10 percent of this comes from St. Thomas through Power Co, Vianode and construction firm Element5-according to Fedeli during his remarks at a press conference regarding this investment announcement.
The Power Co facility valued at $7 billion is anticipated to commence battery production by 2027 while employing around 300 individuals.
The site for Vianode spans 140 acres (56 ha) within Yarmouth Yards-a city industrial park covering 1,500 acres (600 ha) that also accommodates Power Co. Preparations are underway near Ron Mc Neil Line and Yarmouth Centre Road for construction work on the site.
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack highlighted both Vianode and Power Co as signs of local progress.
“This is nothing but fantastic. We are creating economic prosperity and long-term sustainable jobs for the region,” he expressed. “We need industry here to generate jobs along with infrastructure improvements like housing and roads.”
Around 800 acres (320 ha) will remain open for future industries after both Power Co’s and Vianode’s plants become operational.
Vianode has already established an office on Talbot Street where some employees are currently working onsite.
The company plans to produce low-emission synthetic anode graphite-an essential component used in lithium-ion batteries found within electric vehicles along with various industrial applications.
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