The Thorold Multimodal Hub at Niagara Ports set a precedent for success, and now, The BMI Group has achieved another milestone for the Niagara region. BMI’s site in Port Colborne emerges as the chosen site for Asahi Kasei’s latest venture: a cutting-edge manufacturing facility that will produce lithium-ion separators used in electric vehicles.
With 200 acres already acquired and another 200 acres earmarked for future commercial and industrial ventures, the landscape is primed for transformative growth. This strategic move represents an investment of $1.56 billion from Asahi Kasei in Ontario’s lithium-ion battery supply chain, amplifying the province’s involvement in the electric vehicle (EV) revolution on a global scale.
Paul Veldman, CEO of the BMI Group, affirms the significance of this collective effort, emphasizing:
“With substantial investments dispersed across Ontario, including GM in St. Catharines, Linamar in Welland, and Asahi Kasei in Port Colborne, the Niagara region emerges as a dynamic hub in the EV supply chain landscape.” The Port of Red Rock project, spearheaded by BMI, will further solidify Ontario’s position as a frontrunner in the EV sector, as it paves the way for the development of the Critical Mineral Corridor, seamlessly connecting lithium mining and refining in the north with manufacturing in the south.”
Anticipation mounts as Asahi Kasei’s commercial production is to commence in 2027, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Ontario’s industrial and global sustainability efforts.
Read the full news releases here:
Asahi Kasei chooses Ontario to build Canada’s first EV battery separator plant | Invest Ontario