Permitting work for the Sarnia plant was started in June 2011, and the facility will have an initial capacity of 17,000mt.
BioAmber currently produces and sells biobased succinic acid at a 3,000mt capacity plant in France.
BioAmber also plans to produce 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) on the site, using technology exclusively licensed from DuPont that coverts succinic acid to BDO, a chemical with a $4bn existing market.
BioAmber has received $35m in grants and loans from Ontario and Canadian ministries and agencies to locate the facility in Sarnia.
The company also received the support from the Ontario Ministry for Economic Development and Trade, Sustainable Development Technology Canada and the Canadian Sustainable Chemistry Alliance.
Succinic acid is a renewable, non-toxic specialty chemical that can be further modified to make a wide range of products.
BioAmber said the Sarnia biosuccinic acid plant will be commissioned in 2013.
