The Energy NL Conference & Exhibition 2025 began Tuesday at the St. John’s Convention Centre with an opening address by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology and an update from Kerry Moreland, President of ExxonMobil Canada. Minister Crocker outlined his vision for the Newfoundland and Labrador energy industry and Mrs. Moreland updated attendees on activities of ExxonMobil Canada including the discovery of an additional 75 million barrels of oil in the last year.
From there, attendees were provided insight into the global and local energy industry from Mark Oberstoetter, Head of Americas Upstream Research, Wood Mackenzie, Susan Wilkins, Executive Director, Renewable Energy, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Jim Keating, CEO, OilCo. The conversation then changed to a practical discussion on how Energy NL members and Newfoundland and Labrador companies could prepare for projects on the Churchill River as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Hydro-Québec.
Lunch keynote Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist & Founder of Nanos Research, provided insight into the evolving national opinion on energy development in Canada and how that may influence policy in the coming years.
The day concluded with a fireside chat with Jennifer Williams and Michal Sabia, the respective presidents and CEOs of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Hydro-Québec. They discussed how the Churchill River MOU came to be, the need for such a nation-building project, and how local businesses (including the supply and service sector), workers, and communities must benefit from the hydroelectric megaprojects. They also discussed the role Energy NL can play – such as hosting supplier development sessions – in helping its members become involved in the projects.
The second day of the Energy NL Conference & Exhibition 2025 begins at 8:30 a.m. with an update from North Atlantic Vice President of Capital Projects Jeff Murphy.
“The first day of the Energy NL Conference & Exhibition 2025 was a success and provided an exceptional foundation to our discussions for the remainder of the week,” said Charlene Johnson, Energy NL CEO. “We learned more about the objectives of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and recent successes of ExxonMobil Canada which will increase the production longevity of their offshore facilities. Energy NL members also gained insight into how they can prepare for the next megaprojects in the province, specifically the Churchill River hydroelectric developments. I look forward to tomorrow as we explore in greater detail the renewable energy sector and what is required for success and the role technology will continue to play in our industry.”
