‘Rough waters’: Spill raises new questions about fast-growing N.L. oil industry
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador’s ambitious plans to dramatically expand the province’s lucrative offshore oil and gas industry got a nasty jolt on Nov. 16.
Amid a fierce winter storm, an estimated 250,000 litres of oil spilled into the ocean from Husky Energy’s SeaRose platform, about 350 kilometres from St. John’s.
It was the largest spill in the history of the province’s offshore industry, and has prompted calls for regulatory change.
Critics are calling for tighter control of the industry, just as the province moves to expand the size and range of offshore drilling, and fast.