Saint John, New Brunswick (December 18, 2007) – Repsol and Canaport LNG, the joint energy project owned by Repsol and Irving Oil, announced today that they will donate a Full-Field Digital Mammography unit to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The unit, funded in partnership with the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, will help improve breast health, an important healthcare concern for the Saint John community.
Earlier this Fall the Women’s Health Centre decommissioned one of its three mammography units after it failed to pass accreditation with the Canadian Association of Radiologists.
“We were facing the grim reality of growing waiting lists for mammography screenings, an important screening tool for detecting early breast cancer, due to an equipment shortfall,” said Dr. John Allan, a radiologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “But, thanks to this generous gift today from Canaport LNG and Repsol, St. Joseph’s Hospital will again be on the way to providing the necessary diagnostic care and treatments to our patients, in a timely manner.”
Canaport LNG’s General Manager Jorge Ciacciarelli said, “We worked in partnership with St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation to determine where the hospital’s and the public’s healthcare needs were greatest,” said Ciacciarelli, “and found that providing this machine to the local community will fill a critical healthcare need for the citizens and families of Saint John.”
Phil Ribbeck, Repsol’s Director for Commercial Services North America expressed how pleased he was that Repsol was able to help address a key community need. “We attribute much of the success of the LNG project to the support that we’ve received from the community and the solid workforce that is helping us become the first LNG regasification terminal in Canada. Today’s gift simply represents Repsol and Canaport LNG giving back in a small way by addressing some of the critical needs in our community.”
“We’re proud to contribute to this gift through Canaport LNG. We applaud our partner, Repsol, for recognizing the local need for this important technology and being part of the solution,” said Murratte Graves, Program Director of LNG for Irving Oil.
In 2007, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canadian women and is second only to lung cancer in female cancer deaths. Early detection with high quality mammography screening and treatment at an early stage has successfully reduced the death rate from breast cancer by almost 50% of women participating in regular screening programs” says radiologist Dr. John Allan.
David Barry, Chairman of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Board acknowledged the generosity and goodwill of corporate partners Repsol and Canaport LNG. “I can’t express enough how donations like the one here today make it possible for St. Joseph’s Hospital physicians and staff to continue to provide excellence in healthcare” states Barry.
Health Minister Michael Murphy said his department is aiming to improve participation in mammography screening for early detection of breast cancer. He expressed his thanks to Repsol, Canaport LNG and the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation for their gift to the hospital for helping to achieve that goal.
“Mammogram screening every two years is strongly recommended for women aged between 50 and 69 years old for early detection of breast cancer,” Murphy said. “As a government, we welcome the support and the commitment of organizations like Repsol and Canaport LNG and the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation to help improve patient care for New Brunswickers.”
The total cost of the unit is $650,000. Canaport LNG and Repsol are making a $450,000 contribution, in partnership with the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation.
This gift is the second major community donation of this kind. In October 2006, Canaport LNG and Repsol donated $440,000 to complete Lily Lake Pavilion.
Speaking at today’s ceremony are Mayor Norm McFarlane, Minister of Health, Michael Murphy, Dr John Allan, Head of Mammography Services, Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, Canaport LNG General Manager, Jorge Ciacciarelli and Vice President of Repsol Energy Canada, Denis Marcoux.
About Canaport LNG
Canaport LNG Partnership Limited is a partnership between Irving Oil Limited and Repsol. Canaport LNG is to begin operation as a world-class liquefied natural gas receiving and regasification terminal in late 2008. Situated at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Cana port 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 well over 700 jobs during construction. To learn more, please visit www.canaportlng.com.
About Repsol
Repsol is an integrated, international oil and gas company based in Madrid, Spain. Operating or present in more than 25 countries, Repsol is one of the world's ten largest oil companies, with a refining capacity of 1.2 million barrels a day. A leader in the global LNG field, Repsol YPF has projects underway in Canada, Africa, Peru, the Middle East and Mexico, and significant LNG-related investments in Trinidad & Tobago, the largest supplier of LNG to North America, and other countries around the world. Repsol YPF’s subsidiary, Repsol Energy Canada, has contracted for 100% of the capacity in the Canaport LNG facility and the Brunswick Pipeline and will provide LNG and natural gas to the region through those two facilities. Repsol places emphasis on always conducting safe operations, protecting the environment, employing technological innovation, and maintaining a resolute commitment to the communities in which it conducts business. More can be learned at www.repsol.com.
About Irving Oil
Founded in 1924, Irving Oil is a privately owned regional refining and marketing company with a history of long-term partnerships and relationships. Irving Oil operates Canada's largest refinery, in Saint John, N.B., which is located 65 miles north of the U.S border and has reached production rates in excess of 300,000 barrels per day. The refinery exports over 80 per cent of its production to the U.S., and accounts for 75 per cent of Canada's gasoline exports to the U.S. and 19 per cent of all US gasoline imports. In 2003, Irving Oil became the first oil company to receive a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Excellence Award, for its clean gasoline. Approximately 7,000 people currently work with the company.
About St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation
St Joseph’s Hospital Foundation raises funds for equipment, research and education at St. Joseph’s Hospital and develops valuable partnerships with individuals, staff, the community, business and government. St. Joseph’s Hospital has been “Caring for Generations” since 1914 and continues to provide many highly specialized services and programs in our community including: Women’s Health Centre, Urology Wellness, NB Eye Centre, Health & Aging, Day Surgery, Ambulatory Services, and Medical Surgical Services.
Media Contacts:
Carolyn Van der Veen
Canaport LNG
Community & Communications Manager
506-658-6212
cvanderv@canaportlng.com
Leslie Oland
St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation
506-632-5595
olale@reg2health.nb.ca
William Gartland Aznar
Repsol
Deputy Director of External Relations
34 91 348 7272
wgartlanda@repsol.com