Company announces another investment in Sarnia

Origin Materials is moving a pilot plant in the U.S. to the Sarnia-Lambton Research Park off Modeland Road.

Origin Materials is moving a pilot plant in the U.S. to the Sarnia-Lambton Research Park off Modeland Road.

The $6-million project, Origin’s second investment in Sarnia, involves the relocation of an oxidization plant from Tennessee-based Eastman Chemical Company.

The pilot plant is expected to create half a dozen new jobs.

“One of the reasons why we picked Sarnia was because the labour force is highly-skilled and knows how to do exactly the kind of stuff we’re doing,” co-founder John Bissell told The Journal in July after announcing a commercial-grade demonstration plant will be built in Sarnia.

The California company uses plant-based material to produce chemicals normally derived from oil.

The new project is also receiving financial and other support from Bioindustrial Innovation Canada.