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Varcoe: 'We have the resources in Canada' - Nova Scotia premier touts development during pivotal moment for global oil and gas
Houston, who is also the province’s energy minister, is optimistic the Atlantic province will again produce oil and gas. But it will take a concerted effort.
“We have bids open on our offshore oil and gas. We have an onshore program that we’re trying to get started,” Houston said in an interview.
“There’s been a big effort over the last few months to really just increase the awareness of the opportunities in Nova Scotia (and) make sure Nova Scotia is on the radar of people.”
Plans to attract the oil and gas industry’s attention arrive at a pivotal moment, with the world in the midst of the largest supply disruption in the history of global oil markets.
Given mounting concerns about global energy security and the rising prices for oil and gas, it’s likely to draw producer interest to Nova Scotia, said Richard Masson, former CEO of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission.
“Just because it wasn’t attractive five or seven years ago, doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be quite attractive going forward, because the world has changed,” he said.
Houston is aware of these changes. Energy security has barged its way onto the global agenda as countries look for safe, reliable suppliers.
Gas production from offshore Nova Scotia developments ended in 2018 with the shutdown of Encana’s Deep Panuke field and the Sable Offshore Energy Project. |Read more|