The Government of Canada is helping businesses and workers across thecountry seize the economic opportunities associated with the global drive forclean growth — delivering good, middle-class jobs, strong local economies and clean air for generations to come.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources ,and the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science andIndustry, announced up to $86 million in federal investments, subject to final negotiations, to convert the oil refinery in Come By Chance, Newfoundland and Labrador, into a world-class renewable diesel facility that will create hundreds ofmiddle-class jobs, grow the economy and help power the province’s low-carbon future.

The federal support will enable Braya Renewable Fuels
to commercialize itsproduction of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. When completedlater this year, the project is expected to sustain 200 full-time jobs while creating800 local jobs during its construction.

The funding announcement — made possible through Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Fuels Fund and Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s Strategic Innovation Fund — capped Minister Wilkinson’s visit to Newfoundland and Labrador today. In addition to the Clean Fuels Fund, the Government of Canada has also created the Clean Fuel Regulations, which support the growth of the clean fuel sector while being designed to keep lifeaffordable for the middle class.

Earlier in the day, Minister Wilkinson used his keynote address at the
EnergyNL conference to highlight the ongoing federal–provincial partnership to driveclean growth and create jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This initiative includes the Government of Canada’s
introduction yesterday of proposed amendments to expand the mandates of the two historic Atlantic Accord Acts to include the regulation of offshore renewable energy.

The Minister also spoke to the release of the Newfoundland and LabradorCollaboration Framework under the Regional Energy and Resource Tables (Regional Tables). A draft version of the framework — informed by early discussions with Indigenous partners and the initial input of labour and industryrepresentatives — identifies four areas of opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador to excel in a low-carbon economy: critical minerals; wind and hydrogen; electrification; and carbon capture, use and storage.

Finally, Minister Wilkinson also announced an investment of $150,000 in Econext, in partnership with Energy NL, to launch an awareness campaign on hydrogen and the technologies used to produce it locally. Federal funding forthis project is provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Clean FuelsAwareness initiative, which supports innovative projects that aim to address awareness and knowledge gaps among Canadians and industry on all clean fueltypes and clean fuel technologies across all industries, commercial applicationsand the general public.

Through these efforts and transformative initiatives such as those announced today, the federal government is working to position Canada — includingNewfoundland and Labrador — to be a global supplier of choice for cleanenergy and technologies in a net-zero world.

Quotes

“Projects like this are an example of what clean fuels mean for theAtlantic — hundreds of good, middle-class jobs, strong local economiesand a healthy future for our kids. Newfoundland and Labrador has the resources, people and ambition to become a clean energy and technology supplier of choice in a net-zero world. I’m very pleased tobe working with them to realize that potential.”
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Natural Resources

“Innovation is the key to a cleaner, greener future. That's why our government is proud to support Braya Renewable Fuel's project to develop clean fuels for the future of aerospace and air transportation.This is our vision in action — we are taking an old oil refinery andtransforming it into a modern facility that produces low-carbon fuels. The transformation of the Come by Chance plant will give Canada an unparalleled advantage in tomorrow's green economy by helping usachieve our net-zero goals and will create good jobs forNewfoundlanders.”
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“We sincerely thank the Government of Canada for its support of ourefforts to convert the refinery in Come by Chance into a renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel facility. It is a vital asset to the province, providing hundreds of jobs during construction and 200sustainable jobs during ongoing refinery operations. Braya’s world-class conversion project strongly positions our region as a leader inrenewable fuel production, supporting clean energy growth and 2050net-zero emissions targets.”
Frank Almaraz
CEO, Braya Renewable Fuels

Quick facts

• Clean fuels are fundamental to fuelling our future and reaching net-zeroemissions by 2050.

• With a $1.5-billion investment over five years, the Clean Fuels Fundoffers new opportunities to fuel Canada’s transition to clean energy. TheFund will help Canadian companies produce clean fuels, create up to36,000 new jobs by 2030 and enable the reduction of greenhouse gasemissions.

• The Regional Energy and Resource Tables were launched in June 2022, with Phase I featuring British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundlandand Labrador. Phase II was announced in October 2022 with NewBrunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territoriesand the Yukon. With Ontario announcing its participation on October 25, a total of nine provinces and territories are now participating in theRegional Tables. Active engagement is underway with other jurisdictionswith a view to establish Regional Tables with all jurisdictions.