Saint John, New Brunswick – The Saint John branch of OPRON INC., a leading construction company with operations throughout Canada, has signed a major agreement to complete the concrete portion of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks at Canaport LNG, an import and regassification terminal under construction in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The facility is expected to commence operations in December 2008. It is owned jointly by Irving Oil and Repsol, an integrated global energy company based in Spain.
OPRON, a member of the Saint John Construction Association, plans to employ construction staff from the local labour pool in New Brunswick. The company estimates that the project could create as many as 240 jobs, at peak.
Modern LNG tanks require highly specialized materials and sophisticated construction techniques. The tanks are double-walled with highly efficient insulation between the walls to keep the stored natural gas in a liquid state for safe and efficient handling. The tanks maintain extremely cold temperatures of at least –161.5 degrees Celsius.
“OPRON has 30 years of experience in industrial and civil construction projects that consistently deliver superior quality and facilitate the economic development of the communities we serve together with our clients,” said Clinton Carr, OPRON’s general manager. “Canaport LNG is an important new project for OPRON, and we are on schedule to begin construction in August 2006.”
The Canaport LNG project’s overall construction is being managed by the Canadian-based engineering and construction firm SNC-Lavalin. Together with its partner Saipem S.p.A. of Milan, Italy, SNC-CENMC was awarded the Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) contract for Canaport LNG’s onshore facilities.
“We are very pleased that construction is proceeding on schedule with our partners who share our commitment to quality, safety and social responsibility,” says Jorge Ciacciarelli, general manager of Canaport LNG. “We are also pleased that this project is bringing jobs to the Saint John community, advancing the area’s growth as an energy hub for Canada.”
About OPRON
Founded in 1972, OPRON INC. is a leading construction company with operations and offices in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Alberta. OPRON is a full-service firm, handling a variety of projects including civil works, industrial and institutional facilities and complex design-build solutions. More information is available at www.opron.com.
About Canaport™ LNG
Canaport LNG Limited Partnership is a partnership between Irving Oil Limited and Repsol. Canaport LNGis to begin operation as a world-class liquefied natural gas receiving and regasification terminal in late 2008. Situated at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Canaport LNG will have a send-out capacity of 1.2-billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas a day, destined for markets in Canada and the northeastern United States. The project will create approximately 700 jobs during construction. To learn more, please visit www.canaportlng.com.
Contact Information for OPRON:
Clinton Carr P.Eng., G.S.C. General Manager
OPRON
39 Hatheway Crescent
Saint John, NB E2L 5V2
Phone: 506-635-1020
opronmar@nbnet.nb.ca
Contact Information for Canaport LNG:
Carolyn Van der Veen
Canaport LNG
Suite 1606 Brunswick Square
Saint John, NB E2L 4V1
Phone: 506 658 6250 ext 7112
cvanderv@canaportlng.com