Energy NL Conference and Exhibition 2025 Summary

This summary is shared, with permission, by Energy NL.

June 26, 2025

The Energy NL Conference & Exhibition 2025 has come to a successful close after three days of impactful discussions, keynote addresses, and networking among leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector. Held from June 3 to 5 at the St. John’s Convention Centre, the event brought together over 30 speakers and hundreds of delegates from across the province and around the world, with more than 70 companies showcasing their innovations in our exhibition area.

Over three days, the strength, diversity, and ambition of Energy NL members and the broader energy industry were on full display.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s strategic direction

The Honorable Steve Crocker, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, opened the conference on June 3 with a morning address. Minister Crocker reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to supporting energy development, emphasizing offshore exploration and major infrastructure projects such as Churchill River hydroelectric development.

Kerry Moreland, President of ExxonMobil Canada, provided the first operator update of the conference. She shared that two of their recent wells were successful, with 50 million barrels discovered at Hebron and another 25 million barrels at Hibernia, bolstering the province’s energy production outlook. Her address set the stage for a session featuring Mark Oberstoetter of Wood Mackenzie, Jim Keating of OilCo, and Susan Wilkins of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, who provided a comprehensive analysis of global and local energy trends.

The conversation then shifted to a practical discussion on how Energy NL members and Newfoundland and Labrador companies could prepare for projects on the Churchill River, following the Memorandum of Understanding between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Hydro-Québec, featuring senior leaders from both utility companies.

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 afternoon turned once again to the Churchill River megaprojects and the MOU. A fireside chat between CEOs Jennifer Williams of NL Hydro and Michal Sabia of Hydro-Québec emphasized the projects’ potential and the importance of involving local supply and service companies.

Renewable energy and technological innovation

Jeff Murphy, Vice President of Capital Projects at North Atlantic, led the morning session of day two with updates on the company’s negotiation to acquire the Gravenchon refinery complex in France, indicating potential European market entry.

A discussion on onshore wind projects followed, featuring industry leaders from EverWind Fuels, Pattern Energy, World Energy GH2, North Atlantic, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and EVREC. These developers provided an in-depth look at the opportunities and hurdles in developing wind-to-hydrogen.

Cenovus Energy’s Jeff Jeworski presented the latest developments on the West White Rose Project, including the recent tow-out of the concrete gravity structure from Argentia, a significant milestone that highlights local capacity for large-scale projects.

Additive manufacturing (AM) and artificial intelligence (AI) were front and center in a highly anticipated session on enabling supply chains and energy growth. The session brought together experts from AtlanticXL, Aker Solutions, Equinor, and Memorial University to explore how these technologies can revolutionize operations and supply chains. Presenters illustrated that AM and AI are not only cost-effective but essential for scaling up and driving innovation in our evolving energy landscape.

Jackie Forrest, CEO of ARC Energy Research Institute, delivered the second keynote lunch address of the conference, emphasizing the importance of attracting long-term investment in Canada’s energy industry, specifically Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas sector, citing current regulatory complexity as a disadvantage.

The afternoon session titled Powering the Future: Navigating Innovations and Challenges in Grids, Renewable Energy and Power Transmission, featured panelists from North Atlantic, NL Hydro, Newfoundland Power, and Growler Energy.

Policy reform, Indigenous partnerships, and the road ahead

Premier John Hogan opened the final day by expressing his support for offshore oil and gas exploration and articulating his vision for the province’s energy future, including finalizing the Churchill River agreement and accelerating onshore wind development.

Premier Hogan also took time to meet with high school students attending the conference through sponsor Fortis Inc.

Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, delivered the morning keynote, speaking to the need to take advantage of the current “hinge moment” in Canada to develop our natural resources.

Equinor Canada’s Country Director, Tore Løseth, provided a timely update on the Bay du Nord Project, sharing that a contract for the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel will be awarded this summer – a critical milestone for the project.

The final sessions addressed market diversification and regulatory reform, including a presentation on the Port of Argentia’s role in global trade and supply chain access. An expert panel discussed a topic which carried over the three days of our conference: the pressing need to streamline regulatory processes to make the province more attractive to global investors.

The conference concluded with a fireside chat between Clint Davis, CEO of Cedar Leaf Capital – the first Indigenous-owned and led investment dealer in Canada – and Charlene Johnson, CEO of Energy NL. Davis spoke on the importance of Indigenous participation in energy development and offered guidance on fostering meaningful partnerships, including equity participation and early engagement.

Looking forward

The Energy NL Conference & Exhibition 2025 emphasized Newfoundland and Labrador’s readiness to lead progress and development in a changing global energy environment.

For more information on Energy NL or future events, visit their website.