Borealis and System Group–Centraltubi support the construction of temporary housing facilities in L’Aquila, Italy

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, announce the donation of water pipes urgently needed for the establishment of temporary houses in L'Aquila, Italy. At present a large number of homeless people are still living in provisional camps, desperately waiting to move into real houses before the start of winter. Five months ago, in the night of April 6, 2009 a heavy earthquake caused the death of 299 people, made 28,000 people homeless and destroyed around 15,000 buildings.

Under the patronage of the Austrian Trade Office of Padua, Italy, Borealis has taken the initiative and united its forces together with System Group-Centraltubi, a leading Italian pipe producer, and Prof. Alessandro Marangoni from Bocconi University. The team agreed in a fast and nimble way with the Italian Government body National Civil Protection (NCP) to support pro bono basis the re-construction of "Coppito 3" consisting of 13 housing blocks allocating approx. 1.200 people. Borealis is supplying polyethylene material, System Group-Centraltubi is producing the pipes and fittings and Prof. Marangoni helped in local organisation and contact building. A water pipeline of 1.3 km length in the dimensions 90mm and 180mm is being installed.

"Acqua per L'Aquila" is one of various initiatives under the "Water for the World" umbrella. This programme was initiated by Borealis and its joint venture partner Borouge in 2007, in with the aim to contribute to the global water challenge.

"Water for the World" supports social, environmental and business initiatives, to bring effective water solutions to those that need them most - like the re-establishment of water supply in troubled areas. In China, for example, where a major earthquake struck the Sichuan province in May 2008, Borouge, together with local pipe producer Chinaust, provided a 2km polyethylene water pipeline to connect the mobile water treatment system with the nearby river.

"As proven by studies into the Kobe earthquake, polyethylene compared to any other material provides highest resistance to earth movements and is therefore especially suited for the installation in earthquake regions" explains Lorenzo Delorenzi, Executive Vice President Borealis." "The new pipes installed in L'Aquila are made of BorSafe™ LS-H, the latest generation of Borealis material for water pipes. We are glad that we can give a contribution to relief the inhabitants of L'Aquila that were so heavily stroke of fate."

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For further information please contact:

Kerstin Meckler, Head of Communications,
Tel. +43 1 22 400 389
kerstin.meckler@borealisgroup.com