Ottawa is pumping $87 million into the Come By Chance Refinery.

The first shipments of recycled biofuels from the refinery should be on their way to California by the end of this year.

That’s due in large part to the subsidy from Ottawa’s clean fuels and strategic innovation funds.

More than 1,000 employees and contractors are working to transform the 50-year-old refinery into one that produces renewable diesel and low-carbon aviation fuel from used plant-based oils and animal fat.

It will then continue to employ an average of 200 workers as the largest facility of its kind in Canada, and among the biggest in North America.

Jim Stump is in charge of refining with operator Braya Renewable Fuels.

“The $87 million we’re getting from the Canadian federal government is a lot of money and is absolutely necessary for us to complete this project. It was money we needed and we’re glad that Canada came through for us.”

Braya would not divulge the amount that they or equity investors Silverpeak and Cresta Fund Management have put into the reno.

The positive news comes eight months after a flash fire at the refinery left one man dead and seven others injured.

RCMP were at the facility three months ago to collect more evidence for their investigation into the tragedy.