Image source: Energy Now

Irving Oil is pouring $235 million into its Saint John refinery this fall. The massive maintenance project brings thousands of workers to the city and delivers a significant boost to the local economy.

Operation Osprey Takes Flight

The company calls this 75 day turnaround Operation Osprey. The project kicks off in early September and requires 2,100 additional skilled workers. These tradespeople come from over 55 contracting companies across New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. You will see a surge of activity around the city as labourers, pipefitters, welders, and other specialists arrive to complete the work.

According to Energy Now, this marks one of the largest turnaround investments in the history of the Saint John facility.

A $14 Million Economic Boost

This influx of workers directly impacts your local community. The project generates more than $14 million in economic spinoffs for New Brunswick. Local businesses benefit directly from this spending. Workers need places to stay, food to eat, and things to do. This means increased revenue for short term accommodations, restaurants, retail stores, and recreation services in Saint John.

Upgrading Core Infrastructure

The turnaround involves major equipment upgrades and infrastructure replacements. The primary focus is a complete revamp of the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit. The refinery commissioned this unit in 2000 during a billion dollar expansion known as Operation King of Cats. This core unit uses a specialized catalyst to break down complex hydrocarbons and convert heavy crude into gasoline and diesel.

“This $235 million private investment in our facility is essential to maintaining the safe and reliable operation of our refinery, and to strengthening long term energy security for the regions we serve,” says Jeff Matthews, Irving Oil President and CEO. “This project demonstrates our continued commitment to our business, our people and our customers.”

Dave MacLennan, Vice President and General Manager of the Saint John Refinery, echoes this sentiment. “Our annual turnaround maintenance projects are critical to the continued reliability of our business for our customers and the energy security of the communities we serve, as well as for our teams and the tradespeople we welcome to our facility for the duration of the project,” MacLennan says. “Turnarounds take years of logistical planning, with safety at the forefront of all we do.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Operation Osprey?

Operation Osprey is a 75 day maintenance turnaround at the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John. It involves a $235 million investment to upgrade equipment and replace infrastructure.

When does the project start?

The turnaround begins in early September.

How many jobs does this project create?

The project employs 2,100 additional skilled contract workers from 19 different trades. The total workforce hours equal more than 440 annualized jobs.

How does this benefit Saint John?

The influx of workers generates over $14 million in economic spinoffs. This money flows directly into local hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues.