Premier Tim Houston speaks to reporters at One Government Place in Halifax (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
Premier Tim Houston is in Europe this week meeting with energy industry leaders as part of a trade mission focused on expanding offshore natural gas development and clean energy partnerships.
The four-day mission includes stops in London, England, and Milan, Italy, where Houston is meeting with executives from leading international companies and speaking at the World Energies Summit — a major global forum on sustainability and the energy transition.
Houston said the trip is an opportunity to show that Nova Scotia is open for business in the global energy market.
“Nova Scotia has so much to offer the energy sector in today’s competitive global economy,” he said. “Developing our own offshore natural gas can unlock significant economic opportunity for our province.”
He added that Nova Scotia’s proven oil- and gas-rich reserves, skilled workforce, and proximity to major markets make it a strong candidate for future investment.
“We can offer energy companies the whole package — good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians, growth for local businesses, and long-term investment in our communities.”
The visit comes just months after the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator opened a call for bids on 13 exploration parcels near Sable Island — an area adjacent to proven fields and rich in potential.
That announcement marked the province’s first major step toward reopening offshore natural gas development since previous projects wound down several years ago.
When the call was launched in July, Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau said Nova Scotia’s goal is to become more self-reliant in energy supply.
“Right now, all our natural gas is imported, and it flows either from or through the United States,” Boudreau said. “We want to develop our own offshore natural gas to unlock this major economic opportunity for our province.”
Nova Scotia’s Scotian Shelf holds an estimated 3.2 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves and up to 35 trillion cubic feet of potential gas.
Boudreau said new development could revive the kind of economic activity once seen during the Sable Offshore Energy Project and Deep Panuke, which generated billions of dollars in provincial revenue and created hundreds of jobs.
The Houston government says the new round of exploration aligns with its broader energy transition strategy — balancing traditional resource development with emerging clean energy industries. Updates to the Canada-Nova Scotia Accord Acts earlier this year expanded the framework to include offshore renewable energy projects such as wind and hydrogen.
The Premier’s delegation includes senior officials from the Department of Energy and his office, meeting with companies active in both conventional and renewable energy.
The mission continues through Thursday, with Houston scheduled to travel from London to Milan mid-week.
