News Release Archive

NATURAL RESOURCES--ANNOUNCEMENTS POINT TO SABLE POTENTIAL
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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."

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Contact: Maurice MacDonald  902-424-4426

trp                  Apr. 25, 1997 - 5:20 p.m.