Trudeau approves Equinor’s US$12bil oil plan

Green rules: Equinor’s oilfield platforms are pictured in the North Sea. The Norwegian company has to follow strict environmental protection measures in its Canadian offshore project. — Reuters

OTTAWA: Prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government has given the green light to a US$12bil (RM51bil) offshore oil project proposed by Norway’s Equinor ASA, handing a major win to the nation’s fossil-fuel sector but drawing an angry backlash from environmental groups.

The government said the Bay du Nord project – about 500km off the coast of Newfoundland – can move ahead as long as the company follows strict environmental protection measures.