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INTERVIEW MINISTER ANDREW PARSONS, INDUSTRY, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY © ggw/AdobeStock

Rose Project now, another key plank in ensuring rising UÊThe Launch: A state-of-the-art living lab operated by production numbers. the Marine Institute out in Holyrood, which brings the “When you're talking about 16% of our GDP and when world's harshest cold ocean environment directly to the you're talking about a shade over 10% of our actual gov- client. Specialists in harsh ocean tech R&D, testing and ernment revenue, it's a big, big deal,” said Parsons. “In all, demonstration.

we have four developed oil ?elds: Hibernia, Terra Nova, UÊThe Co. Innovation Centre: The Co. Innovation

White Rose and Hebron. Everybody's producing again Centre is helping to address the tech needs of established this year, [and the output is] going to go back up,” helping companies as well as the new ones that are pursuing re-

Newfoundland & Labrador retain its spot as the number mote ops in energy, healthcare, mining, ?sheries, transpor- three oil and gas producer in the country behind Alberta tation and more. and Saskatchewan. UÊThe National Research Council: “NRC has an amaz- “Overall, our economy this year is expected to grow, the ing facility in St. Johns that is one of the most advanced

GDP growth is expected to be about 5% this year, which is indoor model ocean facilities in the world,” said Parsons. certainly music to the ears of our ?nance minister, Siobhan Among the facilities are the ability to produce multi-direc-

Coady,” said Parsons. tional waves in extreme temperatures, at extreme sea states, able to generate wind to simulate real world marine condi- tions. NRC has a towing tank able to test most any vessel,

First Class Facilities

The energy business off the shores of Newfoundland & including high speed vessels such as warships, to bulk car-

Labrador were, in fact, a driver for much of the modern riers and patrol vessels. NRC also has “an amazing ice tank facilities and local expertise that has developed in the re- to simulate what's going on in the Arctic,” able to grow ice gion since the Hibernia platform ?rst started producing quickly and control its properties.

in 1997. UÊCenter for Marine Simulation: An arm of the Ma-

Some of the unique assets in the region that attract in- rine Institute, which is a gem in itself with an amazing vestors and collaborators from around the world include: group of marine tech training, research and development. september/october 2024 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 27