By Paul Morden, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
When work on Nova Chemicals’ $250-million revamp of its Corunna plant hits its peak late next summer, 200 construction workers are expected to be on the site, a spokesperson says.
Work began in September on the project to enable the plant to be fed by up to 100% natural gas liquids, said Nova spokesperson Krista Hagan. It’s part of the company’s Nova 2020 capital strategy that will be the subject of a public open house Nov. 28, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Royal Canadian Legion on Albert Street in Corunna. “We’re holding the open house for an opportunity to meet with the community members, and all interested parties, to seek stakeholder input into our development plans,” Hagan said.
Along with the revamp expected to be completed by early 2014, Nova plans to build an eight-kilometre pipeline to carry Marcellus shale natural gas liquids to the Corunna plant from an existing St. Clair River crossing at LaSalle Line.
The Nova 2020 program also proposes building a new polyethylene plant in the region, tied to an expansion at the Corunna site and increased production at its Moore polyethylene site.
“We expect those decisions will be made in 2013 but we haven’t been given specific timelines for each,” Hagan said.
“These are very ambitious projects that would have a huge impact on employment,” said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, chairperson of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership.
This is be the third open house Nova has held into its expansion plans.
Bradley credits the company for giving local residents the opportunity to learn what’s proposed. “It’s also a positive signal that these open houses are continuing.”
Hagan said construction of the pipeline is scheduled to begin in March and be completed by June. Nova expects to begin using natural gas liquids from the Marcellus shale deposits at the beginning of the third quarter of 2013, she said. The company has called access to lower-cost natural gas liquids feedstock from the U.S. shale deposits a “game changer” for its Sarnia-Lambton plants.
Bradley said Nova’s expansion plans are “really significant” for the community. “Even though we are moving forward in bio-fuels, alternative fuels, the existing industry is a big part of our economy still,” he said. “It’s an excellent combination to have, the industries that have been so strong in the past, plus also the future direction.”
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