Nova Scotia Seeks Bids for Offshore Natural Gas Exploration

Nova Scotia is actively pursuing offshore natural gas exploration alongside ambitions for renewable energy expansion. The provincial-federal offshore energy regulator has issued a call for bids on 13 parcels totaling over 3.3 million hectares on the Scotian Shelf and Scotian Slope, with a known reserve of at least 3.2 trillion cubic feet of offshore natural gas. Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau emphasized natural gas as a key transitional fuel to complement the province's goal of 80 percent renewable energy consumption by 2030, noting that coal use will cease by then. Concurrently, Premier Tim Houston promotes the Wind West project aimed at developing up to 66 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, significantly exceeding current electricity demand, with federal interest in partnership. However, questions remain about the coexistence of offshore gas and wind projects, raising public and environmental concerns. Additionally, exploration acceleration in Nova Scotia includes mineral projects like Military Metals' West Gore Antimony Project, highlighting broader resource development efforts in the region.