Premier Ford and the CEO of Vianode officially kicked off construction on a $2 billion synthetic graphite plant on Thursday. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell has the report.
Excitement filled the air in St. Thomas, Ont., as leaders broke ground on another project aimed at boosting the local and Ontario economies.
“I truly believe in the EV sector,” said Premier Doug Ford. “That’s the way we’re going to be going. That’s the way the world’s going. And we’re going to make sure that we’re leaders around the world when it comes to battery manufacturing, electric vehicles.”
Ford was present as Norwegian company Vianode announced their investment of $3.2 billion for a synthetic graphite facility at Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park.
Synthetic graphite is a key component by weight in electric vehicle batteries and is also used in nuclear reactors and defense systems.
Vianode groundbreaking – St. Thomas – Nov 2025 Dignitaries break ground at the Vianode plant in St. Thomas, Ont., on Nov. 20, 2025. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
This announcement follows Volkswagen’s unveiling of its $7 billion Power Co gigafactory, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles.
Vianode CEO Burkhard Straube didn’t comment on any possible collaborations with Volkswagen but highlighted Canada’s “stable political system” that appeals to foreign investors.
“I would assume that Power Co and Vianode have the same reasons to come. And that’s a very supportive environment, as we discussed today. Canada itself has a stable political system and situation, so that’s very important for companies investing a lot of money,” Straube said.
The new investment will create 300 jobs initially, expanding to 1,000 jobs once fully operational.
Vianode groundbreaking – St. Thomas – Nov 2025 The new site of the Vianode plant at Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park in St. Thomas, Ont., on Nov. 20, 2025. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston mentioned this development will bring about a “generational change” for local employment opportunities.
“So many grandparents have come up to me and said, ‘Mayor, you know what’s happened, you’ve made it where our kids can stay home, where our kids can work in a community where they grew up,’” said Preston.
The Vianode facility will receive some public funding; the province has committed to providing a loan of $670 million under certain conditions.
The project will be developed in phases and ultimately achieve an annual capacity of 150,000 tons – enough synthetic graphite to support approximately two million electric vehicles each year.
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