The continued pitch for development of a fourth refinery in Sarnia-Lambton was highlighted to city council Monday morning.
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership General Manager George Mallay shared his ideas to increase the attractiveness of the region as a place to invest, during council's special corporate priorities and strategic planning meeting.
He says securing an estimated $10-billion bitumen upgrader refinery would certainly do that.
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Shell Canada, Suncor and Imperial Oil operate refineries locally.
Councillor Mike Kelch questioned if there was enough demand for another refinery.
Mallay says the bitumen upgrader refinery would produce ultra-low sulphur diesel, gasoline and other high-value products for the global market.
He says it would focus on exporting throughout Ontario and PAD District two which covers 15 states from Michigan to North Dakota, south to Oklahoma and east to Ohio.
Mallay says work is also underway to attract a food processor to the area.
He says countries like China have a high demand for products that are safe and have high standards. He says the challenge is getting local businesses to pursue those types of markets.
Mallay would also like to see passenger rail service restored, high speed internet service increased, a new health sciences complex developed at Lambton College and a heavy haul corridor to ship large fabricated metal and plastic products established within the next three years.
