Courtesy of Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
(2015) Sarnia-Lambton’s Refining and Petrochemical centre has its roots in the oil fields of Lambton County. In 1857 the discovery of crude oil at Oil Springs, just south of the Town of Petrolia, led to the establishment of several refineries. The presence of a large refinery at Sarnia and the needs of a wartime economy in the 1940s combined to bring petrochemical companies to the area. The region’s excellent location, access to raw materials and transportation routes to the markets of the world continue to ensure a vibrant future for the diversified oil and petrochemical complex which has developed.
The area’s refining and petrochemical complex also serves as an ideal platform for new biohybrid chemistry manufacturing, such as BioAmber, which is locating a bio succinic acid plant in the Bio-Industrial Park Sarnia. Raw materials and transportation are key. Major pipelines bring crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and ethane to the Sarnia-Lambton region. Other pipelines carry refinery products to markets across Southern Ontario. Vast salt deposits lie just 2,000 feet below the surface. The St. Clair River provides cooling and process water as well as being a link in the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the heartland of North America with the markets of the world. Within the local refining and petrochemical complex, a network of pipelines facilitates the transfer of intermediate products from one company to another. The SLRPC has an excellent transportation infrastructure. The region is served by a superb network of highways that connect to the Great Lakes Industrial Corridor, the southern United States, and into Mexico. Highway 402 runs eastward from the Michigan-Ontario border and joins up with Highway 401. To the west, Highway 402 connects with Michigan’s Interstate 94/69/75 network via the international double-span Blue Water Bridge. This commercial border crossing includes customs and brokerage facilities and a dedicated lane for trucks using the Free and Secure Trade (FAST)
The regional rail infrastructure is impressive with service offered by both CN and CSX Transportation. CN operates a rail tunnel under the St. Clair River. As an international gateway, the St. Clair River Tunnel accommodates double-stacked containers and multi-level auto carriers with non-stop efficiency. Sarnia-Lambton – an excellent place to do business; a superb place to live while doing it! Sarnia-Lambton has an enviable quality of life unmatched by most regions of Canada. With a population of nearly 89,000 (Statistics Canada, 2006 Census – Sarnia Census Agglomeration), the Greater Sarnia Area is large enough to provide the amenities of a city without the problems of a major metropolitan centre. Residential areas are attractive and affordable. Schools and public facilities of all kinds are excellent. Traffic problems are nonexistent. Its location on the shores of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River provides many and varied recreational opportunities. Meanwhile, major population centres such as Detroit and London are less than an hour’s drive.