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Lacombe County approves Nova expansion

Nova Chemicals has lined up all the necessary Lacombe County approvals for a multi-million-dollar expansion at its Joffre plant.

Nova Chemicals has lined up all the necessary Lacombe County approvals for a multi-million-dollar expansion at its Joffre plant.

The county’s municipal planning commission approved a development agreement and approved an approach from the plant to a county road.

County Commissioner Terry Hager said there were not any issues that arose out of the application for the expansion, which is an approved use in the heavy industrial zoning where the plant sits.

“It’s contained within the existing plant,” he said of the proposal to add a third polyethylene reactor at the Joffre site.

“And given the relationship and the reputation Nova has in terms of how they’ve performed in our community we’re quite comfortable with what is going on.”

The company unveiled the four-year project in March and construction is expected to begin next year. It is expected to cost $750 million to $900 million and provide a major economic boost with 500 construction jobs created at peak.

Once complete, 25 to 35 permanent jobs will be created, plus up to 25 contract positions.

Polyethylene production will be boosted by 40 per cent after the upgrade.