Press Release
Innovative research will lead to renewable, biodegradable, and cost-effective alternatives to petroleum-based products thanks to a Government of Canada investment of more than $5.8 million.
The new pilot project builds on Thunder Bay’s growing bioeconomy research cluster and will encourage sustainable forest management, create jobs, and strengthen the region’s economy.
Employment, Workforce Development and Labour minister Patty Hajdu, also the MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, made the announcement Monday on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development minister Navdeep Bains, also the minister responsible for FedNor, and Natural Resources minister Jim Carr.
Of the total investment announced Monday, FedNor will provide $3 million to enable FPInnovations to build a world-class, thermo-mechanical-pulp bio-refinery (TMP-Bio) demonstration plant.
The pilot plant is an important step in scaling up bio-refinery in Canada–a promising technology that takes advantage of the growing demand for “green” bio-chemicals and bio-fuels provided by sustainably-sourced Canadian wood.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is investing $2.8 million to help operate and support research at the new pilot facility, located at the Resolute Forest Products mill in Thunder Bay.
“The Government of Canada is proud to invest in strategic initiatives that promote public/private-sector partnerships in support of innovation and economic growth,” said Bains.
“Today’s announcement will help establish a fully-functioning bio-refinery plant that will speed up the development, production, and commercialization of ‘green’ bio-chemicals derived from wood, helping companies diversifies and create jobs.”
“Our government values innovation and is committed to building collaborative working relationships to help support the forest sector,” noted Carr.
“FPInnovations has shown leadership in transforming the industry, promoting a culture of collaboration, and demonstrating results by developing bio-products with a low carbon footprint.”
“Northern Ontario has a wealth of innovative thinkers and leading researchers, and this project helps to demonstrate how their ingenuity is creating business opportunities and growing the local economy,” said Hajdu.
“By investing to capitalize on our inherent strengths, we are helping to strengthen the local economy and create meaningful middle-class employment here in Thunder Bay and across the region.”
“Innovation and clean technology are key priorities for the Government of Canada and we are proud to invest in projects, such as this state-of-the-art, bio-refinery demonstration plant in Thunder Bay, that enable industry to explore new opportunities, develop new value-added products, and help position the Thunder Bay region and all of Northern Ontario for sustainable economic growth and success,” echoed Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak.
“This project highlights the importance of investing in de-risking new technologies and products, and points the way for developing and delivering a transformative technology that contributes to the Canadian bio-economy,” said FPInnovations CEO Stéphane Renou.
“This major initiative strengthens the industry’s position as a leader in the bio-refinery sector.”
“We are pleased to continue our strategic partnership with FPInnovations by providing both a host facility and financial support to this innovative venture,” noted Resolute Forest Products president and CEO Richard Garneau.
“This project will help create opportunities to diversify the use of wood fibre into higher-value-added products,” he said.
This $21-million project builds on FPInnovations’ existing and highly-successful collaborative partnership with Resolute Forest Products and Lakehead University, and also includes participation by the Province of Ontario, the Municipality of Thunder Bay, and several others.
FedNor’s investment is provided through its Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation throughout the region.
NRCan’s investment is provided through the Softwood Lumber Action Plan under the Forest Innovation Program (FIP) announced in the 2017 federal budget, which supports the mass-development and mass-production of sophisticated “green” bio-chemicals derived from wood products.
