Construction of NOVA Chemicals' new polyethylene facility is nearing completion, according to the company's vice president of Manufacturing East.
Rob Thompson said the work being done on Rokeby Line at Highway 40 is progressing well.
"We're still on track to be starting the facility by the end of the year and we've maintained full employment levels with almost 2,000 workers on site everyday."
Construction of the $2.5 billion plant, and expanding the Corunna cracker next door, was announced in 2017. It’s estimated 150 permanent full-time jobs will be created to operate and maintain the facilities.
Thompson said the company has completed all of their routine maintenance for their 2022 turnaround and are in the process of restarting their Corunna site over the course of the weekend.
"It was a significant turnaround. It took place over the last three months with significant new construction and refurbishment of the facility, plus a full maintenance turnaround."
NOVA announced the planned maintenance in April with a goal of completing the work this month.
"It was a highly complex event with over 2,000 folks on site working with NOVA personnel and our contract partners," said Thompson. "NOVA's truly grateful for the collaboration and dedication of the local skilled trades and our contract partners plus the NOVA personnel to pull-off this complex turnaround."
In April, Thompson said the turnaround work at the Corunna site is also “a key enabling event” for the successful start-up of the facility on Rokeby Line.
