Natural Resources
December 15, 2014

Leading the Provincial Energy Sector

Provincial Government Meets Energy Plan Commitments

Today, the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that 94 of the 107 commitments outlined in Focusing Our Energy have been completed or are operational. The progress made in implementing the goals and objectives of the energy plan was acknowledged in the Auditor General’s Annual Report released today.

“We thank the Auditor General for his positive comments about the department’s work on the energy plan. We also accept his recommendation to make available to the public a progress report on the status of implementation and related outcomes of the plan. Since the creation of the energy plan in 2007, our government has been guided by the strategic and long-term vision for responsible resource development to benefit Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We have released timely information about specific achievements within the plan, including those in hydroelectricity and oil and gas. We will release a progress report to provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an updated picture of the commitments we have implemented to date.”
- The Honorable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources

Progress related to the policy actions in the energy plan include:

  • Creating Nalcor and its subsidiaries
  • Establishing equity stakes in offshore projects such as Hebron, the White Rose Expansion and Hibernia South
  • Investing in geoscience that has resulted in the discovery of three new basins and a significant boost in prospects
  • Making amendments to offshore occupational health and safety legislation
  • Developing a new land tenure system to facilitate exploration and increase the province’s competitiveness in the global industry
  • Investing non-renewable revenues into renewable energy projects such as Muskrat Falls
  • Undertaking a capital program to ensure the Upper Churchill facility is in operating condition in 2041 when the province will be in a position to receive the full benefit from this power
  • Amending the Energy Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador Water Rights Act to enable the issuance of water rights to Nalcor Energy for the purpose of developing the Lower Churchill Project
  • Introducing the Labrador Industrial Electricity Rate Policy to provide a single published electricity rate for all industrial customers on the Labrador interconnected system.

The majority of the actions in the energy plan have been adopted as regular day-to-day business and will continue to direct the activities of the Provincial Government and Nalcor Energy for decades to come. Other actions are in the planning stages or are longer term in nature.

The Department of Natural Resources is fully aware of the implementation status of all policy actions and monitors progress continuously. All actions are captured in the normal monitoring and reporting activities of the department, including departmental strategies, annual reports and budget monitoring.

A progress report of policy actions will be provided publicly.

QUICK FACTS

  • Today, the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that 94 of the 107 commitments outlined in Focusing Our Energy have been completed or are operational. The progress made in implementing the goals and objectives of the energy plan was acknowledged in the Auditor General’s Annual Report released today.
  • Since the creation of the energy plan in 2007, the Provincial Government has released timely information about specific achievements within the plan, including those in hydroelectricity and oil and gas.
  • On the recommendation of the Auditor General, the Provincial Government will release a progress report to provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an updated picture of the commitments implemented to date.
  • The energy plan is a comprehensive strategy that embraces developments currently underway in Newfoundland and Labrador, and prepares and plans for developments on the horizon. The plan looks ahead to the exciting period in the province’s future beyond the expiration of the current Upper Churchill power contract in 2041.

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Media contact:
Diana Quinton
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 631-8155
dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca

2014 12 15                              4:25 p.m.