‘If you build it, they will come’: Local reaction to Vianode plant announcement

CTV’s Reta Ismail with local reaction to the Vianode production facility announcement in St. Thomas.

The City of St. Thomas has secured another major international investment, one that could help offset recent concerns about job losses in Ontario’s auto sector.

Norwegian company Vianode, a global leader in sustainable battery materials, announced plans to build its first North American synthetic graphite plant at the city’s Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park.

“This is a bit like a Field of Dreams vibe, isn’t it? The ‘if you build it, they will come’ kind of attitude,” said Sean Dyke, CEO of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation.

Vianode’s products are a key ingredient in lithium-ion batteries, including those being developed at the nearby Volkswagen-backed PowerCo SE gigafactory — although no formal agreement between the two companies has been announced.

The company says its new facility will produce high-performance, low-emission synthetic graphite, a critical material for the next generation of electric vehicles.

“We’ve been working with them for a while and their team is incredible,” Dyke said. “It’s obvious they care about their people, and it’s impressive how focused they are on sustainability.”

Production at the St. Thomas plant is expected to begin in 2028. The project is anticipated to create about 300 skilled jobs initially, growing to 1,000 positions once the plant reaches full capacity.

The city says the announcement strengthens St. Thomas’ growing reputation as a leader in Canada’s electric vehicle revolution and as a bright spot in Ontario’s manufacturing future.

“We have a 1,500-acre industrial site, some of that’s taken up with roads and utilities, but PowerCo is using just under 400 acres,” Dyke said. “Vianode will take just under 150 acres for now, and the rest of the park is available for sale.”

Industry experts say the investment will help stabilize the region’s economy at a time when traditional auto manufacturing has been hit by layoffs and uncertainty.

“These announcements are good news,” said Brendan Sweeney, managing director of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. “They’re bright spots, and I think they signal a transition to what’s next for the automotive industry in Canada.”

Vianode says its production process can reduce emissions by up to 90 per cent compared with traditional graphite manufacturing, part of its mission to make battery materials cleaner and more sustainable.

The company has plans to supply materials for up to three million electric vehicles per year by 2030.