Dow Chemical's Sarnia complex in closing stages

02-May-09

Closure of Dow Chemicals' Sarnia plant was deemed necessary after restrictions were imposed on the Cochin pipeline that supplied Dow with ethylene from Alberta. Dow Chemical's Sarnia complex has been going through the closure process since announcement in August 2006 of its decision to close the Sarnia site. The process of decommissioning and demolishing the Dow facilities is expected to cost US$30 mln. Five of six plants have been razed to the ground and the remaining one - a propylene oxide derivatives plant, is currently being decommissioned and will be ready for demolition by the fall. Soil remediation will continue until 2011, as over the years, there has been some contamination of the soil. One office building, formerly used for research and development, and all of the road infrastructure, power distribution and water management systems will remain intact for TransAlta.