Chemtrade safely supplies liquid chlorine essential for the treatment of Canada’s drinking water.
Chemtrade’s North Vancouver chlor-alkali facility is one of Canada’s largest providers of liquid chlorine – accounting for 40 per cent of all liquid chlorine available in Canada. Regionally, this equates to over 70 per cent of the liquid chlorine available in BC and Alberta. Chlorine is the most common component in the treatment of safe drinking water.
A Vision for the Future
Chemtrade’s site has operated safely in North Vancouver for more than 65 years.
Chemtrade is engaging with the North Vancouver community to extend its current lease agreement, set to expire in 2032, and continue producing chlorine to support a stable supply chain for clean drinking water in Canada.
This is a complex process that includes working with the local community, local Nations, the Port of Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and other levels of government. We want to make the right decisions, not just for the local community, but also for the millions of Canadians who rely on chlorine to treat their drinking water.
Since 2010, over $500 million has been invested in the North Vancouver site to improve safety, reliability, and modernize the facility.
We want to engage with the North Vancouver community about these plans and the importance of this site for the community, province, and country.
Learn more about our operations in North Vancouver
A look at how our North Vancouver facility supports healthy drinking water in Canada.
Extending Chemtrade’s operations in North Vancouver into the future will:
Secure a long-term supply chain for clean drinking water within Canadian borders.
Support stable operations for our employees and the businesses that use our products.
Help meet British Columbia and Canada’s climate change goals with key products that support electrification.
About Chemtrade
History
Chemtrade Logistics Inc. is a Canadian company based in Toronto, with sites across Canada, North America, and Brazil. In 2017, Chemtrade acquired Canexus, the previous owner of the North Vancouver chlor-alkali plant.
The North Vancouver site has 118 employees, with the longest serving employee having dedicated more than 43 years to Chemtrade and the previous owners in North Vancouver. Hourly employees and supervisors are proudly represented by UNIFOR Local 697 and 601.
Integral products
The North Vancouver facility is a modern chlor-alkali plant, producing chlorine, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. The products we create support a wide range of industrial customers that are the base of our economy - from water treatment to innovation and technology, to oil and gas, pulp and paper, and the automotive industry.
Sodium hydroxide
Used in household cleaners and soap, food preservation, pharmaceuticals, textiles, glass production, paper, and more.
Chlorine
Used to kill bacteria, microbes, and viruses, and is a key ingredient in treating municipal drinking water systems for safe drinking water. Chlorine is also used in consumer products such as textiles, paint, and PVC plastics.
Hydrochloric acid
Has hundreds of applications, including food preservation and is a key ingredient used to make PVC plastic. It is a key ingredient in battery production, including EV batteries, and light bulb manufacturing.
Sustainable processes
Electrochemistry uses three simple inputs: water, salt, and electricity. This process generates virtually no waste, greenhouse gas, or pollutants.
A co-product of the manufacturing process is hydrogen. This is a 100 per cent renewable energy source, which could be further developed to achieve British Columbia and Canada’s climate change commitments. Recently, Chemtrade partnered with Teralta Hydrogen Solutions and Canfor, with plans to use hydrogen from Chemtrade’s site in Prince George to help power the local Canfor pulp mill.
Further, Chemtrade can help supply the critical raw materials for EV and renewable battery production that would bring new investment and supply chains to Canada.
Chemtrade Open House
On June 6, 2024, Chemtrade held two Open Houses in North Vancouver to share information, listen to the community, and answer questions. If you missed this event, please visit the Get Involved page for additional ways to connect.