St. Thomas, Ontario -- The Ontario government has secured a $3.2 billion investment from Vianode to build a synthetic graphite facility in St. Thomas, marking the company’s entrance into the North American market and a major step in the province’s plan to strengthen economic resilience.
The state-of-the-art site will create nearly 300 jobs in its initial phase with 1,000 positions expected once the facility reaches full capacity. The government says the project will generate broad economic benefits across southwestern Ontario and anchor a domestic supply chain for a material used in EV batteries, nuclear reactors, semiconductors, aerospace and defence systems and steel-making.
“Today’s announcement is a historic milestone for southwestern Ontario and a major win for workers, creating good-paying manufacturing jobs today and for generations to come,” said Premier Doug Ford.
As the first large-scale low-emission synthetic graphite plant in North America, the facility is expected to reduce reliance on China, which controls more than 80 per cent of global production. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, said the investment positions Ontario as a leading supplier for strategic industries as demand rises.
The province is supporting the project with a loan of up to $670 million, subject to a definitive agreement. Vianode plans a phased build-out reaching up to 150,000 tons of annual capacity, enough to supply roughly two million EVs per year.
“Today marks an important step towards a resilient North American battery supply chain,” said Burkhard Straube, chief executive of Vianode.
Local leaders, including member of provincial parliament Rob Flack and St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston, called the project a vote of confidence in the region’s workforce and a catalyst for long-term growth.
