A local delegation has won a commitment from Ontario's Energy Minister to further explore a proposed heavy oil upgrader in Sarnia-Lambton.
The $10-billion project put forward by a group of former Chemical Valley executives was an agenda item in meetings at Queen's Park involving a 30-member delegation led by the Chamber of Commerce.
Spokesman Don Wood says the minister, Bob Chiarelli, stopped short of issuing a policy statement supporting the processing of bitumen in Sarnia but he clearly expressed interest in pursuing the project's potential.
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Wood says this morning's meeting involved the minister and 11 staff members.
Project proponents say Canada is losing $2.5-billion a year by exporting, rather than processing oil sands bitumen at home.
