By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A six-year-old proposal to build a facility outside Cape Broyle to service the offshore oil industry never materialized, and now the clock has run out on a decision to release it from further environmental assessment.
Baker Hughes Canada Company submitted a plan in January 2020 for a jet perforating gun assembly plant in the area of Whitehorse Barrens outside Cape Broyle. It received a decision from then Municipal Affairs and Environment Minister, Derrick Bragg, on April 29, 2020, that released the project from further environmental assessment.
However, the Province announced May 29 that the original three-year term and three subsequent one-year extensions on that decision have expired.
“The project must be registered again for environmental assessment to proceed,” reads the provincial bulletin from Environment, Conservation and Climate Change.
The facility was proposed to assemble prefabricated components into “jet perforating guns” and store them locally for use by operators in Newfoundland offshore oil industry. The project was to include the construction of a 300-metre access road from Route 210 to a storage yard where a gun-loading facility and Type 4 magazines for the storage of explosives would be built.
While the project was not located within Cape Broyle’s boundaries, most of town council at the time had been reported to support the proposal since it could have some economic benefit.
Administrator Wendy Duggan with the Town of Cape Broyle said last week it is her understanding the project hasn’t moved forward.
Inquiries to Baker Hughes about whether there were any plans to proceed, and what factors contributed to the project being delayed or abandoned, were not returned by press deadline.
Baker Hughes was required to apply for the annual extensions after the initial three-year timeline was granted.
