Key Takeaways
- HOPA Ports and the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation (MCBC) have partnered to restart a biodiesel production facility at Pier 14 in the Port of Hamilton, Ontario, under a newly formed entity called Biidaaban Renewable Energy.
- MCBC holds a 51% ownership stake in Biidaaban, establishing an Indigenous-majority-owned clean energy infrastructure project in Ontario.
- The facility is expected to reduce approximately 130,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually — the equivalent of removing more than 28,000 passenger vehicles from the road each year — and create more than 70 jobs.
- Prior to its shutdown by former US-based owners, the facility produced biodiesel from agricultural and waste-based feedstocks; HOPA Ports acquired and maintained the plant through the period of inactivity to preserve the asset.
- Operations are expected to resume later in summer 2026, supported by recent Ontario and federal policy changes that have improved the economics of domestic biodiesel production.
Biidaaban Renewable Energy to Restart Hamilton Biodiesel Facility Under Indigenous Majority Ownership
HOPA Ports and the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation (MCBC) have announced a partnership to save a biodiesel production facility in Hamilton, Ontario from permanent closure. The facility, located at Pier 14 at the Port of Hamilton, will be restarted and operated by Biidaaban Renewable Energy, a newly formed entity in which MCBC holds a 51% ownership stake. The arrangement is anchored by a Memorandum of Understanding between HOPA Ports and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), establishing a framework for ongoing collaboration.
The project creates one of Canada's most significant examples of Indigenous-majority ownership in clean energy infrastructure, with MCFN participating directly as the Treaty Rights Holder for the region.
What the Facility Produces and Why It Matters
The Hamilton plant produces biodiesel from a mix of agricultural and waste-based feedstocks, supporting domestic fuel production, Ontario's emissions reduction targets, and Canadian agricultural supply chains. At full capacity, the facility is expected to reduce approximately 130,000 tonnes of CO₂e per year — equivalent to removing more than 28,000 passenger vehicles from the road annually — and generate more than 70 jobs across the region.
Prior to its closure by former US-based owners, the plant was an established part of Ontario's domestic fuel infrastructure. When market conditions shifted and the facility's future became uncertain, HOPA Ports stepped in to acquire and maintain the site, bridging the gap until a viable path forward could be found.
“HOPA's objective has always been to protect this critical energy infrastructure and ensure it remains part of Canada's energy future. By preserving the facility through a challenging period, we've been able to support a transition to new ownership that secures jobs, strengthens domestic production capacity, and puts the asset back to work for the region,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports.
Indigenous Leadership and the Policy Environment Behind the Restart
The restart is made viable in part by recent policy changes at both the provincial and federal levels. In Ontario, updated fuel blending requirements have strengthened demand for Canadian-produced biodiesel. At the federal level, enhanced support for domestic biofuel production and revisions to clean fuel policy have improved competitiveness for Canadian producers.
“This investment represents an important step toward reclaiming and advancing economic participation in sustainable energy by MCFN. Biidaaban reflects both the renewal of this facility and our commitment to realizing a new dawn of economic reconciliation using a Treaty Forward Approach through long-term environmental stewardship,” said Warren Sault, President and CEO of MCBC.
“Rooted in Indigenous majority ownership, the right policy environment, and a team of experienced partners, Biidaaban is positioned to deliver reliable, low-carbon fuel solutions while creating over 70 jobs and multiple economic opportunities across the region,” said Tim Haig, incoming President & CEO of Biidaaban Renewable Energy.
Operations at the facility are expected to begin later in summer 2026, following final commissioning preparations. The project is intended to demonstrate how Canadian public sector support, Indigenous leadership, and private-sector expertise can combine to deliver commercially viable and environmentally sustainable energy infrastructure.
