Nova Scotia. Department of Energy

Other forms of name:
Nova Scotia. Petroleum Directorate

In 1980 the Petroleum Resources Act was passed and responsibility for it given to Mines and Energy. In March 1995 the successor department, Natural Resources, was reorganized and a Petroleum Development Agency became one of its four high-level operational branches. The PDA was the focal point for government activities relating to the development of onshore and offshore oil and gas. In 1997 the Petroleum Development Agency became a separate and independent agency renamed Petroleum Directorate, and responsibility for petroleum resources was removed from the minister of natural resources. The Petroleum Directorate was responsible for the provincial petroleum industry, including Nova Scotia lands as defined in the Pipeline Act, and for the management of Nova Scotia's petroleum resources and the financial and employment benefits flowing from their development and use. In 2002 the Petroleum Directorate was succeeded and replaced by the Department of Energy. The department is responsible for the supervision, direction and control of all matters relating to energy resources, including oil and gas, electricity and renewable energy and other natural resources when used for the production of energy, including developing and implementing energy policies and programs; conducting research and analysis related to the effective management, including exploration, development and use, of the Province's energy resources; liaising with other governments, departments, organizations, advisory groups, regulators and associations to advance the interests and concerns of the Province and facilitating co-ordinated energy policies, activities and programs; managing the Province's energy resources in order to achieve optimum economic, social and environmental value from the energy sector, including issuing rights to use the Province's oil and gas resources and monitoring the use of these rights; and promoting the efficient, effective and environmentally sound use of energy. The department is also the Government lead with respect to climate-change matters.

Notes: Authority record based on Statutes of Nova Scotia: 1980 c. 12, 2001 c. 4, 2006 c. 44; Orders in Council 97-719 (19 November 1997), 2002-286 (17 June 2002); Department of Natural Resources. Annual Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1995.

see also Department of Natural Resources (1991- )