Annual review of mines and energy activities taking place

Ed Byrne, Minister of Natural Resources, said today the 28^th annual review of mines and energy activities will take place Thursday, November 4, at the Delta Hotel and Convention Centre, St. John�s. The annual review is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Newfoundland Branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Mettalurgy and Petroleum (CIM).

The 2004 review of activities will consist of an overview of the current field, research and other activities of the mines and energy branches of the Department of Natural Resources.

"Our resource-based industries continue to be the most significant economic drivers for our province," said Minister Byrne. "Our mining and energy sectors, including electricity, are currently worth $2 billion and represent approximately 18 per cent of provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These sectors also generate approximately 6,800 annual person years of direct employment, with indirect employment estimated at 10,800 person years."

Minister Byrne said the annual review provides an excellent opportunity for the department to provide an update on what is happening in the mineral and energy sectors in this province. The review of activities will include a number of presentations as well as a poster display session.

The presentations on Thursday include:

9:05 a.m. - Geological Survey Review
9:50 a.m. - Mineral Exploration Update
10:55 a.m. - Mineral Development Update
11:30 a.m. - Petroleum Exploration Development and Update
11:55 a.m. - Review - Centre for Earth Resources Research

The poster session will take place from 2 - 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and include posters on: current projects, geological survey, geochemistry/geophysics and terrain sciences, mineral deposits, regional mapping, geoscience publications and information, mineral development, mineral lands, and energy. The posters will continue to be on display until 3 p.m. Friday in Salon A at the Delta Hotel.

A highlight of the annual review is the public lecture taking place at 7:30 p.m. It will be presented by Gerry Squires of the Geological Survey Division of the Department of Natural Resources and is entitled: Meteorite Impact Cratering: A force of planetary and biological change, with some Newfoundland and Labrador examples.

"I encourage the general public to attend the review of activities to learn first-hand what is happening is these very important sectors in our province," said Minister Byrne. "We have witnessed growth in these areas and we anticipate this trend will continue into the future."

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications (709) 729-5282, (709) 685-4624

2004 11 03                                                            1:20 p.m.