Officials celebrate the SucroCan announcement on Tuesday: Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority board member Keanin Loomis; Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson; port authority president and CEO Ian Hamilton; and SucroCan founder and CEO Jonathan Taylor, left to right. (Saira Peesker/CBC)
A new sugar refinery is scheduled to open in Hamilton's port lands in 2025, aiming to become Canada's largest, with the capacity to produce one million tonnes of refined sugar annually. The Sucro Can Sourcing facility, located at the foot of Sherman Street North, will utilize the previously contaminated Randle Reef as a key element of its operations.
The once heavily polluted site, part of a major cleanup initiative since 2016, will serve as a "dock wall" for ships delivering sugar to the facility. The Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) will oversee the enclosed reef, signaling the near completion of the cleanup process.
The $135-million investment from Sucro Can and HOPA is expected to create 50 to 75 new jobs, with a potential $1-billion economic impact on Ontario. HOPA President and CEO Ian Hamilton expressed that numerous agri-food businesses have been eagerly awaiting a local sugar supply.
Sucro Can's existing smaller refinery in Hamilton will be phased out upon the new facility's fall 2025 opening. Founder and CEO Jonathan Taylor highlighted that the majority of refined sugar will cater to Ontario's growing agri-food sector, with some destined for export.
Sucro Can, based in Florida and founded in 2014, considered various locations before choosing Hamilton, citing a strong relationship with HOPA and excellent transportation access. The company's focus on improving supply chains has contributed to its success, operating another refinery in New York.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson emphasized the Ontario government's commitment to utilizing waterways for goods transportation, referring to them as "H20 highways." While the project has not received government funding yet, Taylor expressed hope for future support.
Construction of the plant is scheduled for spring and summer, with efforts to minimize sound disruptions. Taylor assured that operational emissions and odors would be limited due to the facility's strategic location away from residential areas, learning from past incidents.
