News Release Archive
NATURAL RESOURCES--ANNOUNCEMENTS POINT TO SABLE POTENTIAL ----------------------------------------------------------------- The recent awarding of a joint venture contract to a Dartmouth company, a contract to a Nova Scotia consulting firm, the commitment of $4.4 million to train Nova Scotians for the Sable Offshore Energy Project, and announcement of Nova Scotia Power's agreement to purchase natural gas, are all indicators of the potential beneficial impact of the Sable project on the Nova Scotia economy, Natural Resources Minister Eleanor Norrie said today. MM Industra of Dartmouth and Brown & Root of Houston, Tex., were awarded a $13-million contract for the fabrication of early jackets --- the steel "legs" to support offshore drilling structures. Jacques Whitford and Associates of Dartmouth was awarded a $1-million contract to conduct geotechnical analysis for the proposed pipeline easement corridor. The federal and provincial governments have committed $4.4 million to train Nova Scotians for work on the Sable project under the Canada/Nova Scotia Development Fund; and Nova Scotia Power has signed a memorandum of agreement with Shell Canada Ltd. to purchase 60 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Sable Offshore Energy Project for a 10-year period. "Even though the Sable project still requires regulatory approval, it is important from a planning perspective that these decisions are being taken at this time," Mrs. Norrie said. The Joint Review Panel hearing the project application has been receiving evidence in Halifax for the past three weeks and moves to Fredericton beginning Monday. The province of Nova Scotia is an intervenor in the hearing process and the minister said the province is taking a "professional and thorough" approach to the hearings. "The province was one of the active intervenors in filing information requests directed at pre-filed evidence of the proponents and other intervenors, and will continue to ensure that information pertinent to the decision-making process appears on the official record of the proceedings," she said. As the largest capital undertaking in Nova Scotia history, "it is important that the Joint Review Panel has all the necessary information and concerns available to it in order to properly assess all aspects of the project," the minister said. "This hearing process was established by the province and the federal government to ensure that all groups, companies, organizations and individuals with an interest in the Sable project have an opportunity to express their views," said the minister. "The project is important to Nova Scotians, and it is similarly important that the review process be as thorough as possible," Mrs. Norrie said. "Nova Scotia's voice is being heard." -30- Contact: Maurice MacDonald 902-424-4426 trp Apr. 25, 1997 - 5:20 p.m.