BioAmber announces opening of world's largest succinic acid plant in Sarnia

Facility uses biotechnology to produce sustainable chemicals from sugar

SARNIA, ON, Aug. 6, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - BioAmber Inc., a leader in renewable chemistry, announced today the opening of its BioAmber Sarnia plant that was jointly built with Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

BioAmber Sarnia makes renewable chemicals from sugar instead of petroleum. The new plant uses innovative biotechnology and will produce biobased succinic acid from glucose sourced from southern Ontario agricultural suppliers. The BioAmber Sarnia plant is the world's largest succinic acid production facility and will be globally competitive while making chemicals more sustainably. 

BioAmber Sarnia is part of the growing bio-industrial cluster in Sarnia Lambton and has received support from the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure's Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund. BioAmber is also grateful for the support of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada and the Sarnia Lambton community.

BioAmber Sarnia's financial partners include Export Development Canada, the Farm Credit Corporation and Comerica Bank.

NOTE: Photos and digital materials are available on request

Quick Facts

• BioAmber Sarnia construction cost: approximately US $141.5 million
• Capacity: 30,000 tons/year of succinic acid
• World's largest succinic acid plant
• Disruptive technology is lower cost than oil-based production
• Markets: increasing demand for renewable building block chemicals in large global markets
• Applications: examples include: plastics, paints, textiles and coatings, artificial leather, food and flavours and personal care products
• Volumes specified in signed take-or-pay and sales agreements exceed annual production capacity
• Approximately 300 construction jobs and 60 full-time jobs were created by the project; many of the plant operators are graduates from Lambton College
• 100% reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions compared to the equivalent production process that uses petroleum.

Quotes

JF Huc, CEO BioAmber: "We're excited that our renewable chemicals made from sugars are making everyday applications around the world more sustainable. We believe our disruptive biotechnology is going to profitably deliver benefits for the environment, our customers, our shareholders and the Sarnia Lambton community. "

Brad Duguid, Member of Provincial Parliament Scarborough-Centre, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure: "The opening of the BioAmber Sarnia facility is key to the development of Sarnia's very unique bio-industrial complex, delivering good jobs, significant exports, and diverse markets for Ontario farmers with the full support of the Government of Ontario. The production and development of sustainable chemicals by BioAmber, working from within the existing chemistry cluster in Sarnia, is an economic and environmental win for the community and the province."

SOURCE BioAmber Inc.

BioAmber Investor Contact: Mike Hartmann, Executive Vice President, 514-844-8000 Ext. 120