BioAmber begins commissioning of bio-succinic acid plant in Canada

BioAmber Inc, an industrial biotechnology company producing sustainable chemicals, has initiated commissioning activities for its 30,000 metric tonne (MT) capacity bio-succinic acid plant located in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
 
Commissioning and start-up is expected to take approximately five months, with the facility being in commercial operation in Q3 2015. BioAmber expects construction to be completed in two months and it is carrying out commissioning and start-up activities in parallel.
 
“This is a significant milestone for BioAmber, which is poised to begin a period of rapid growth. During the commissioning phase we will test the plant and get it running section by section, produce bio-succinic acid and qualify it with our customers and begin to sell product that meets specifications. We plan to be in full commercial operation in Q3 2015, by which time we can reliably supply customers including our take-or-pay contracts,” said Jean-Francois Huc, Chief Executive Officer, BioAmber.
 
The Sarnia plant will be the world’s largest succinic acid manufacturing facility, with an annual nameplate capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes. BioAmber has signed take-or-pay agreements with Vinmar and PTTMCC (a joint venture between PTT PLC and Mitsubishi Chemical) that represent sales volumes of over 5,000 metric tonnes in 2015 and 15,000 tonnes in each of 2016 and 2017. BioAmber has also signed a number of supply agreements with non-binding volume commitments that collectively exceed the available capacity in the plant.