NOVA Chemicals and Government of Alberta Celebrate 50 Years of Petrochemical Innovation

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and NOVA Chemicals CEO Roger Kearns Unveil Commemorative Plaque at Joffre Site

Joffre, AB, CANADA (June 30, 2025) – NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) and the Government of Alberta marked a historic milestone with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at NOVA Chemicals’ Joffre manufacturing site, celebrating 50 years of petrochemical innovation, partnership, and progress in the province.

The ceremony, attended by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson, was hosted by NOVA Chemicals CEO Roger Kearns and Senior Vice President of Innovation, Sustainability & Strategy, Rocky Vermani. Alongside government staff and NOVA Chemicals employees, they toured the world-scale facilities and reflected on the legacy of Alberta’s first ethylene plant, E1 – approved in 1975 under then-Premier Peter Lougheed’s visionary leadership.

The commissioning of the E1 ethylene cracker marked the beginning of Alberta’s value-added petrochemical industry. Ethylene, a foundational building block of plastics, enabled NOVA Chemicals to evolve into the leader in polyethylene production that it is today. This milestone laid the groundwork for NOVA’s long-term commitment to innovation, sustainability, and circularity.

“Fifty years ago, Premier Lougheed had the foresight to transform Alberta’s natural gas advantage into a diversified, value-added economy. Today, we honour that legacy and look ahead to the next 50 years of reshaping how plastics are designed, made, and recycled,” said Kearns. “As Canada’s largest petrochemical producer, our products help keep our food and beverages fresh and safe, reduce transportation-related emissions, improve energy efficiencies in homes, and enable the development of advanced medical instruments and personal protective gear¹. We are proud that our materials play a vital role in so many essential, everyday applications.”

Since its founding, NOVA Chemicals has evolved from a small prairie pipeline company into a global leader in polyethylene production, recycling solutions, and the circular economy. With deep roots in Alberta and the support of more than 1,400 Alberta-based employees, the company’s 50^th anniversary recognizes the people, partnerships, and progress that have shaped its journey. Recent investments and expansions in the province total well over $2 billion and the company’s Innovation Centres in Calgary have been granted hundreds of global patents.

“As Canada’s largest petrochemicals producer, NOVA Chemicals is a vitally important player in Alberta’s economy and a valued job creator,” said Premier Danielle Smith. “It’s clear to me that, after close to 50 years of continuous operations, the Joffre site is in its prime. If the last 50 years are anything to judge by, we can expect big things for petrochemicals in the next 50.”

MLA Johnson added, “Lacombe County is proud to be a neighbour of this remarkable facility. NOVA Chemicals’ commitment to responsible growth and community support has made a lasting difference in our region.”

The commemorative plaque will serve as a permanent tribute to the pioneering decision that launched Alberta’s petrochemical industry and to the generations of employees who have helped shape the province’s petrochemical success story.

Looking ahead, NOVA Chemicals remains focused on its purpose of reshaping plastics, anchoring its strategy in operational excellence, strong innovation partnerships, and leadership in circularity.

“As we enter our next chapter, we are building on our strong foundation of petrochemical manufacturing by accelerating innovation and investing in circular solutions that will create the next generation of sustainable materials,” said Vermani. “Building on our legacy of world-scale ethylene and polyethylene manufacturing positions us to continue delivering on our promise to be our customers’ first and best choice.”

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About NOVA Chemicals

NOVA Chemicals, we are reshaping the way plastics are designed, made, and recycled to be our customers’ first and best choice. We accelerate the development of high-quality and reliable polyethylene solutions by designing resins that exceed the demands of our customers and consumers, investing in leading-edge mechanical recycling and feedstock infrastructure, and collaborating across the value chain to advance a circular economy. Our globally advantaged assets, strong partnerships, and digitalized operations consistently improve industry standards for the next generation of plastics by driving innovation, enhancing customer experience, and achieving operational excellence.

Our diverse portfolio of polyethylene and recycled polyethylene enables the creation of monomaterial products and packaging that are suitable for a broad range of circular applications. Learn more about our markets and applications.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, NOVA Chemicals is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and employs 2,600 worldwide. Learn more at www.novachem.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

NOVA Chemicals is a proud Responsible Care^® company.

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations
Samantha Peck
Manager, External Communications
e-mail: Samantha.Peck@novachem.com

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The NOVA Chemicals logo is a registered trademark of NOVA Brands Ltd.; authorized use.
Responsible Care is a registered trademark of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada.
^[1] Based on a study done by McKinsey, plastics ensure greater sustainability by lowering emissions, saving energy, and protecting our health.