INEOS Styrolution takes the safety of its employees and those that live and work close to its facilities very seriously.
During normal operations, the Sarnia site has operated within the strict regulatory limits set and permitted by The Ontario Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks [Petrochemical Industry Standard, Version 3.0 published by the Ministry in June 2020 pursuant to O. Reg. 419/05]. Prior to the new orders from the MECP, and following a thorough data review, we confirmed that site monitoring systems specified by the MECP detected no emissions exceeding the prescribed limits in the weeks before the initial MECP order issued on April 16, 2024.
INEOS Styrolution has invested more than $50 million in our Sania site over the past five years. It has the expertise and the intent to continue to implement planned improvements on benzene emissions abatement at the site, safely and effectively.
In addition to the significant investments required to comply with the latest order from the MECP issued on May 1, 2024, the required timetable for actions is simply unrealistic. Our engineers and technical teams have raised significant concerns about safety and elevated emissions if the Ministry insists on the ill-informed timelines contained in its May 1, 2024, order.
INEOS Styrolution has also raised concern about the impact of the order on the local and national economy. The Sarnia plant is now closed, the flow of all products into and out of the site is currently stopped and the plant cannot be restarted until the requirements set forth in the May 1, 2024, order is satisfied. This will likely impact the refineries that produce most of Eastern Canada’s gasoline.
The MECP refuses to discuss a technically safe timetable to implement further improvements at the Sarnia site to meet their May 1, 2024, order based on new emission standards applied retroactively and without notice in its initial order issued on April 18, 2024, and confirmed in its May 1, 2024, order.
Consequently, we are considering whether to appeal the order from the MECP to enable us to safely and effectively, implement newly designed equipment systems on site, to meet the new emission standards, address the concerns of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation and to continue to serve the wider economic needs of Canada.
For further inquiries, please contact styrolutionmedia@ineos.com