Image

Styrolutions moves up date for Sarnia site closure

October 24, 2024

INEOS says its Sarnia plant will be closed by the end of 2025.

The company announced in June it would close Styrolutions in Sarnia by June 2025. At the time, it was facing new regulations to limit the release of benzene.

In May, a number of people in nearby Aamjiwnaang were ill after high levels of the cancer-causing agent were found in the air. That led the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to pull the company’s certificate of approval which allowed it to operate. The order required the removal of all benzene storage from the site.

The province also ordered installation of full vapour control equipment which were later mirrored by the federal government.

Lawyers for INEOS Styrolutions filed an appeal of the MECP orders calling them “crippling.” Before the case was heard, the company announced it would close.

In early October, INEOS removed the benzene from the site – by the MCEP imposed deadline of Oct. 16 – as Aamjiwnaang moved some residents away from their homes to avoid harm.

Today, in a company news release, INEOS Styrolutions’s CEO Steve Harrington, said the company has reaffirmed its decision to close and will do it sooner than first announced.

“Since announcing the difficult decision to permanently close our Sarnia site, we have conducted an extensive assessment to determine the operational viability of restarting the site on a temporary basis. Ultimately, the conclusion of the assessment was that temporarily restarting the site is not operationally feasible or economically justifiable,” Harrington said in the news release. “We are now focused on conducting a safe, responsible, and compliant closure process and supporting our employees, contractors, customers, and partners, including offering transition support for impacted employees.”

The date of closure hasn’t been determined but says the decommissioning will be complete by the end of 2025 instead of June 2026.

Styrolutions said in June it was not leaving because of the benzene problems in Sarnia. Independent Commodity Intelligence Services says many styrene producers are operating at only 70 per cent capacity because of an over supply after the number of styrene plants in China – one of the biggest markets for the plastic – added significant capacity.

“I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our Sarnia team for their contributions to our business over the years,” said Harrington. Eighty people are employed at Styrolutions.

Share This

Image
Front Page

LCCVI’S Junior Boys heading to LK finals

February 14, 2025

LCCVI dominated the second half to beat John McGregor 46-29 in the AA semi finals Friday in Petrolia. The Lancers lead 26-22 at the half but then poured it on the second. Jamison Helps had 16 points and Brandon Lester had 13 points in the win. LCCVI will take on Great Lakes in the final Tuesday in Sarnia at 5:30

Read More

Image
Front Page

Lancers fall to Wolfpack in Senior Girls’ volleyball title

February 14, 2025

Great Lakes in the senior girls’ AA volleyball champs for 2025. They defeated LCCVI in straight sets on Friday by scores of 25-22, 25-15, 25-10. The championship match was played at the Sarnia school. The SWOSSAA championship will be played at the home of the Windsor-Essex champion next Wednesday.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Lancers rally to win LK junior girls volleyball title

February 14, 2025

LCCVI rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Wallaceburg in five sets on Friday to win the LKSSAA junior girls’ AA volleyball crown. The Lancers won the match 13-25, 25-16, 13-25, 25-21 and 15-11. The Petrolia school will host the SWOSSA championship next Thursday.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Cold Alert issued for Lambton

February 14, 2025

Lambton County’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karalyn Dueck,has issued a Cold Weather Alert for the region based on the latest forecast from Environment Canada predicting the temperature to meet the threshold of -15°Covernight beginning Monday, Feb. 17. The alert is expected to remain in effect through Tuesday, Feb. 18, with the potential toextend beyond. The Medical Officer of Health

Read More