Premier Andrew Furey says Cenovus nearing the completion of the gravity-based structure for West White Rose underscores the importance of the industry.

The company held a celebration in Argentia on Tuesday. Within the next few months the structure will be towed out to the Jean d’Arc Basin, with first oil expected next year.

Furey calls it a “full circle” moment for him, as West White Rose was a very active file from the moment he took office.

He says it represents a commitment to the industry, and the importance of the industry and the province’s product at a time when global world demand is changing.

“This product is not landlocked. We don’t need pipelines across six provinces, we can take this product wherever we want. So it is competitively advantageous to continue to develop this product now from an industrial perspective and an environmental imperative as well, in that it’s lower carbon per barrel than the oil sands. So we need to continue to develop this product.”

“And a sample of a completion of a project like today tells us not only is the resource there, not only is the will there, but the skilled trades workers are there as well.”