Irving's Halifax marine terminal opens with plug for Energy East

Irving Oil opened its Halifax Harbour Terminal on Thursday with a major plug for theproposed Energy East pipeline.

Shuttered in 2002, the New Brunswick business giant decided in 2015to restart its marine fuelling terminal in Woodside. The $80-million reactivation project finished in 18 months "on time and almost on budget," Arthur Irving said during the opening.

At the same time, he lauded the company's Saint John, N.B., refinery, which is currently undergoing its annual maintenance shutdown operation.

"Twenty-two days ago, wehired 2,700 people for whatwe call operation Red Fox. Wedo this about every year," he said of the maintenance work.

'Halifax is booming'

That refinery could play an important role in the proposed Energy East pipeline, a topic Irving said he spoke about withNova Scotia Energy Minister MichelSamson earlier in the day.

If approved, the 4,600-kilometre pipeline, by Calgary-based energy corporation TransCanada, would carry 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day fromAlberta to New Brunswick.

"That pipeline will be built because Alberta has to have it. I was in Calgary on the weekend. Calgary misses the pipeline now," Irving said.

"Halifax is booming; Alberta is not."

He outlined how he envisions the project will work. He said the pipeline would run to Saint John and Irving Oil would partner with TransCanada "50-50" to build a dock to export the crude.

"That will happen but it's taking a little longer than itshould," he said. "But it will happen because it is the right thing to do for Canada. They can't get along without it, Alberta needs it, the East Coast needs it and the crude has to be sold and transported."

Irving's Saint John refinery is ideal as the marine exporting facility, saidIrving who, with his brotherJ.K., share ownership of theIrving group of companies.

"We got the deep water,120 feet at low tide and we've got a 32-foot tide so we can handle any ships of any size in the world."

'We have the desire'

Samson later reiterated the support of Nova Scotia's Liberal government forthe Energy East project.

"We have the desire.We've made it very clear to Mr. Irving," he said.

"On Friday, I'll be making a presentation to the Senate committee that will be here in Halifax to indicate that our premier and our government have made it clear that we support the pipeline, we see it as part of our energy security in Nova Scotia."

Samsonalso said he was satisfied the newly reopened Halifax marine terminal will help boost the region's energy security.

• Gas shortage in Nova Scotia leads to 'complete insanity' for station owners

"Not too long ago, we did have a shortage here in Nova Scotia due to the fact there was only one supplier that was bringing petroleum products to the province. Having this second supplier here now ... makes it clear to us it will give us better security here."