The House of Assembly entered into an emergency debate, Tuesday afternoon, on the future of the Come By Chance oil refinery.
Support was unanimous for the immediate debate, given the importance of the 50-year-old refinery to the province and hundreds of workers and their families.
Government first got wind yesterday that the sale to Irving Oil had been terminated. Energy Minister Andrew Parsons told media he got the official word from Irving in a phone call this morning.
(Photo courtesy North Atlantic Refining.)
With that, attention has now turned to another suitor—Origin International—which had expressed interest in buying the refinery a few months ago.
Parsons says he fully expects current owner Silverpeak to now pursue that option, adding government is committed to making sure the refinery does not permanently close.
That said, Parsons noted refineries around the world have been idled or shut down since the global pandemic hit in March. He said the future for the industry as a whole remains grim, with Saudi Arabia predicting oil in the range of $50 a barrel for the next three years.
As for the refinery, 500 jobs are on the line, with the Tories suggesting the number is closer to 2,000 in the context of spinoffs for other work related to its operation.
