Ontario Construction News staff writer
NextStar Energy is celebrating a major construction milestone, having logged more than eight million safe work hours on its massive electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility, currently nearing completion in Windsor.
The company marked the occasion Wednesday alongside its construction partner, Alberici-Barton Malow (A-BM), with a celebration involving local tradespeople and employees. The milestone was reached without a single lost time injury since construction began in 2022.
โThis achievement marks more than work hours,โ said Danies Lee, CEO of NextStar Energy. โItโs a reflection of the incredible dedication and collaborative efforts from countless individuals, working together to bring NextStar Energy to life. Iโm incredibly grateful to our partners who have undoubtedly set a new standard of excellence.โ
The $5-billion joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution spans 4.23 million square feet and will become Canadaโs first large-scale domestic battery manufacturing facility. Equipment installation is now underway, with battery cell production expected to begin later this year. Module production began in the fall of 2024.
To date, more than 9,000 Canadian tradespeople have contributed to the eight million safe work hoursโequivalent to roughly 913 years of labour.
โEight million safe work hours is an incredible milestone,โ said Sean Thibeault, project director at A-BM. โIt demonstrates not only the scale of work being done, but also our unwavering commitment to a safety-first environment. Iโm extremely proud of the skilled tradespeople, the A-BM team, and our subcontractor partners for their dedication.โ
The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario also recognized the milestone.
โOn behalf of Ontarioโs building trades, I want to congratulate the workers at the NextStar Energy project,โ said Marc Arsenault, the councilโs business manager and secretary-treasurer. โThe focus on safety never stops, ensuring that every worker goes home safely at the end of the day.โ
NextStar Energy has hired more than 800 employees so far and is expected to become a cornerstone of Canadaโs EV supply chain, helping to support the automotive sectorโs transition to electrification.