LCY Biosciences revives former BioAmber’s succinic acid plant in Sarnia

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

LCY Biosciences announced that it had acquired BioAmber’s biobased succinic acid plant and that it was ready to resume operations in 2020. Now, it has been confirmed that the company is producing succinic acid and carotenoids in the former BioAmber’s biorefinery.
News (The Sarnia Journal): “A once defunct Sarnia bioplastics plant has risen from the ashes”, 17/08/2021.

Figure 1. The LCY Biosciences plant in the Lanxess Bio-industrial Park on Vidal Street (credits: Glenn Ogilvie)

BioAmber formed a joint venture with Mitsui to build a succinic acid plant in Sarnia (Ontario, Canada). The facility, with a nominal capacity of 30 ktons/year, was commissioned in August 2015. However, in 2018, with a heavy debt load and few customers, it closed the Sarnia plant and filed for bankruptcy, leaving 60 people unemployed.

According to The Sarnia Journal, after buying the plant and investing millions, LCY Biosciences is today producing more succinic acid than its predecessor did. BioAmber was making 8 ktons of succinic acid annually. Today LCY, which is headquartered in Taiwan, is producing 18 ktons and the goal is to hit 30 ktons (former plant’s nominal capacity) by 2023. The plant exports 98% of its succinic acid to foreign markets. The white, sugar-like powder is converted into a biodegradable polymer (PBS) used in food packaging. The polymer is made is Asia for markets in Europe.

LCY is also using fermentation to make carotenoids. Beta-carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A, is used in food, nutrition products, cosmetics, and animal feed. Carotenoids are highly sought after for instant noodles in Asian markets and give the product its orange colour.

LCY’s Sarnia plant currently has 51 employees, mostly engineers and operators, and it is working on plans to expand in the Chemical Valley.

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