News release

Call for Bids Issued for Offshore Natural Gas

Energy
resources

Nova Scotia is welcoming more opportunity for investment and jobs with a call for bids for offshore natural gas exploration.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator issued the call today, July 7.

“Right now, all our natural gas is imported, and it flows either from or through the United States. We want to develop our own offshore natural gas to unlock this major economic opportunity for our province,” said Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau. “This will mean good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians, growth for local businesses and long-term investment in our communities. We also need natural gas to play a key role as we move to a low-carbon economy.”

Nova Scotia has a known reserve of 3.2 trillion cubic feet of offshore natural gas reserves on the Scotian Shelf, with the potential for up to 35 trillion cubic feet. The Province has had successful offshore natural gas projects – the Deep Panuke Offshore Gas Project and Sable Offshore Energy Project – that created hundreds of jobs and brought in billions of dollars that helped build schools, hospitals and roads and fuelled the provincial economy.

The deadline for bids is April 28, 2026. Nova Scotians can learn more and comment on the call for bids at: https://cnsoer.ca/oil-gas-energy/petroleum-related-call-for-bids/

Quick Facts:

  • Nova Scotia’s offshore is jointly managed by the provincial and federal governments through the Canada-Nova Scotia accord acts
  • the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator is an independent federal and provincial agency that regulates offshore energy resources
  • the call for bids is for 13 parcels on the Scotian Shelf and slope; none overlap the Sable Island National Park Reserve or the Gully Marine Protected Area
  • the moratorium on oil and gas exploration and drilling on Georges Bank remains in place; in 2022, it was extended to December 31, 2032
  • successful bidders could be awarded exploration licences; if they wish to develop a site, they would need to apply for a significant discovery licence and then a production licence

Additional Resources:

Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator: https://cnsoer.ca/

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