Highbury Energy Inc. and the Whiteboard Community Energy Consortium (WBCEC) are moving forward with a $210 million Indigenous-led project to build a biomass-to-fuels plant in Northern Ontario. The facility will produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, following the successful completion of a front-end engineering design (FEED) study, reports Renewable Energy Magazine.
WBCEC, an Indigenous-led and industry-supported consortium, owns 80% of the project through ten First Nation communities. The group said the FEED study confirmed the project’s technology and business model, allowing it to advance to final design and engineering.
When completed, the Fort Frances biorefinery, the first of its kind in Canada, will:
Use woody biomass to produce SAF and renewable diesel.
Support Canada’s forestry sector while creating 84 direct and indirect jobs.
Provide long-term economic benefits to First Nations partners.
Produce low-carbon fuels aligned with Canada’s climate policies.
Improve forest management by using leftover wood fiber and lowering fire risks.
The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2028, a milestone that would make Northern Ontario a key hub for renewable fuel production.
Highbury Energy CEO Len Bykowski said the initiative highlights the strength of partnerships. “This project combines advanced technology with the leadership of ten First Nation communities, supported by government at all levels. Together, we are building a facility that delivers economic opportunity and climate solutions for the region,” he said.
