NOVA Chemicals' Corunna, Ontario, facility resumes normal operations

02-02-2006: NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced that its Corunna, Ontario, manufacturing facility has returned to normal operations following a maintenance outage that was extended primarily due to equipment problems.

NOVA Chemicals' Corunna ethylene flexi-cracker resumed production on January 24, 2006, and is now producing and shipping ethylene and all related co-products. NOVA Chemicals' Sarnia, Ontario, area polyethylene facilities are returning to normal production rates.

The company lifted its force majeure on hydrogen on January 30, 2006. The force majeure declarations on ethylene, polyethylene, propylene, and other co-products are expected to be lifted individually during February, as sufficient inventories are built to provide steady supplies to customers. The negative impact to net income in the first quarter of 2006 is expected to be U.S. $20 - $25 million.