NOVA Chemicals has scheduled a maintenance shutdown of their styrenics operations from March 25 to April 29, 2003.

Shutdown quick facts:

• Cost:                               $9.6 million Cdn.
• Timing:                             March 25 – to April 29
• Additional workforce:         150 at peak
• Work profile:
  • environmental improvements
  • safety improvements
  • reliability projects

During this scheduled shutdown, maintenance work will take place to further enhance the site’s environmental and reliability performance. The main focus of the shutdown work will be the replacement of catalysts in the site’s main reactors. This will allow the plant to run more efficiently and will significantly reduce flaring levels during normal operations.

Sarnia Site Leader, Ian Macdonald, said, “As during our everyday operations, safe and environmentally sound practices will be a leading priority throughout this shutdown. Environmental improvements made during the last turnaround gave us excellent noise control, so even during startup we expect to have a minimum impact on our neighbours.”

Macdonald also reinforced that fenceline monitoring will take place at various times throughout the shutdown using the Sarnia Lambton Environmental Association’s mobile monitoring van. “This precautionary move aligns with our commitment to continuously manage our operations in a safe and responsible manner without impact to the community.”

We would be pleased to have a representative from your office join us for a site tour, and to learn more about this upcoming shutdown on Thursday, March 20, at 2 p.m. We will contact you soon to confirm your availability.

NOVA Chemicals Sarnia Site produces 950 million pounds of styrene each year. Styrene is a primary raw material used to produce thousands of consumer items such as CD and DVD cases, food and cosmetic packaging, medical devices and office accessories.

If you would like to know more about these plans and our community activities,
please contact Jo Ann Brown, Public Affairs, at 519.862.2911, ext. 2591.