Keasha Maile, FEO, November 21, 2024, VOL. 6 ISSUE 6
Asahi Kasei’s new $1.7 billion lithium-ion battery separator manufacturing facility in Port Colborne, the first of its kind in Canada, broke ground on November 14, signalling a new era for Niagara’s economy. Local and provincial leaders joined company representatives to celebrate the facility, which promises to create hundreds of jobs, boost the local economy, and advance sustainability.
Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade, Victor Fedeli, explained the critical role this facility will play in Ontario’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. “Once fully operational, this facility will produce enough separators to supply roughly one million EVs annually,” Fedeli said. He highlighted that Asahi Kasei’s plan will also support Honda Canada’s investment in the province, with a new joint venture aimed at establishing a reliable supply of battery separators.
Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, Vance Badaway, highlighted the collaboration among various levels of government that helped bring the project to fruition. “This groundbreaking is about more than just the construction of a facility. It’s about government partnerships… partnerships that will last generations,” he stated.
Expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs, the new facility reaffirms Niagara’s role in advanced manufacturing. “This isn’t just an investment in infrastructure; it’s an investment in people, in skills, and in our collective future,” Badaway added, underscoring the far-reaching benefits for the region.
Jim Bradley, Niagara Regional Chair, emphasized the importance of workforce development to support projects like this one. “This investment is a testament to our commitment to equipping companies like Asahi Kasei with a best-in-class workforce,” he said. Bradley also acknowledged partnerships with Niagara College and Brock University to prepare residents for careers in advanced manufacturing. “Our goal is not only to develop a skilled workforce but to reinforce it,” Bradley added, expressing optimism about the region’s future.
The groundbreaking ceremony concluded with shared optimism for the facility’s impact, promising economic growth, job creation, and sustainability for Niagara’s communities in the years to come.
