Americas News
Nova Scotia Refinery Moves Toward Closure
Bunker fuel deliveries from the soon-to-be defunct Imperial Oil refinery in Nova Scotia are set to stop after Sunday, September 15, Canadian newspaper the Chronicle Herald reports.
Imperial Oil spokesman Merle MacIsaac declined to say whether the plant, which is in the process of being converted to a storage terminal, would stop its refining operations on that date.
"Work continues to progress toward the initial conversion to terminal operations," MacIssac said.
"Full conversion will be a multi-year process, while dismantling will be a longer-term program of work."
Dave Collins, vice president of Atlantic Canada fuel supplier Wilson Fuel Co. Ltd., said his understanding is that there will be no more deliveries of bunker fuel after Sunday.
Imperial Oil decided to close the 95-year old refinery in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia after failing to find a buyer for it, and some industry-watchers have said the older facility is not able to compete against new refineries like one Irving Oil is planning in Saint John, New Brunswick.
ExxonMobil, a majority owner of Imperial Oil, announced in June that it was planning to stop selling bunker fuel in Halifax as the refinery is converted to storage.
