For Immediate Release
January 23rd, 2023 – Today, Trades NL officially launched their “Build Right Here” public awareness campaign, focusing on maximizing local construction work for Equinor’s Bay du Nord project. The campaign aims to address a possible misconception that our province doesn’t have the local labour capacity to build components for the FPSO and the implications to our local economy, businesses, non-profits and communities if work is lost – encouraging everyone to engage with their local MHA and others on the issue.
With reserves of nearly 300 million barrels of oil (with first oil expected in 2025), Bay du Nord is the first remote, deep water project in the province’s offshore (500 kilometres from shore and approximately 1,200 metres deep). (Source: Gov NL)
“We are increasingly concerned that local construction work won’t be maximized for this project,” said Trades NL’s Executive Director, Darin King. “It appears that Equinor plans to build the entre Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) out of country, and it is important that the public are made aware of this. We want to ensure everyone understands how crucial it is that we maximize local construction work on this project, as well as the risky precedent we are setting as a province should the work be sent elsewhere and not completed in province by local skilled trades persons. Our resources should be developed for our benefit, and considering the recent Terra Nova FPSO refit, where the majority of the work is being completed in Spain – lack of local construction work could, again, be a real possibility. The amount of spin-off jobs, and positive effects local construction work brings to families, communities, businesses and non-profits is tremendous – adding a much-needed boost to our economy in particularly uncertain economic times, and the public deserves to know what they could be missing out on.”
“It’s also important to note that this project creates opportunities for our workers to stay in province, allowing them to keep up with their essential training,” continues King. “Another reason why maximizing work on the Bay du Nord project would aid our tradespeople. And considering we are on the cusp of some large Wind/Hydrogen energy projects, there has never been a better time than now to ensure that happens. We are continuing our advocacy on this issue, but by reaching out to your local MHA it provides that united effort that helps our advocacy become that much more effective. This issue affects us all, and I encourage you to please engage as much as possible.”
To find out more information on the Build Right Here campaign, and to learn more on how to contact your MHA please visit this link.
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Media Contact:
Shanelle Clowe
Communications
709-325-1040
sclowe@tradesnl.com
About Trades NL
Trades NL is an umbrella labour organization which promotes and coordinates the interests of 16 building and construction trades unions, representing more than 60 trades and 15,000 skilled trades workers in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. For 70 years, our craft continues to construct, fabricate and maintain some of the world’s most complex facilities.
About Trades NL: Labrador Office for Indigenous & Northern Skilled Trades
Trades NL: Labrador Office for Indigenous & Northern Skilled Trades is dedicated to recruiting, promoting, supporting and advancing the economic growth of Indigenous People of Newfoundland and Labrador within the skilled trades – with an emphasis on Red Seal occupations. This office seeks to create new employment opportunities for Indigenous apprentices and journeypersons, increase apprenticeship completion rates, and foster greater commitment and participation of employers and unions to create employment opportunities, overcome barriers and enhance supports in the workplace.
