Nova Scotia, Canada is Fueling the Future

At CERAWeek, the focus is on securing supply and advancing new gas opportunities. Nova Scotia is advancing a new onshore natural gas play backed by a $30M program to accelerate early-stage exploration and reduce upfront risk for companies entering the North American market.

Through a partnership with Dalhousie University, companies can access funding to evaluate new basins, reduce upfront risk, and move from exploration to production with greater certainty.

We’re connecting with developers ready to move early and shape the next phase of onshore gas development.

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De-Risk Exploration. Move Earlier.

Test, validate, and advance new onshore gas opportunities, without carrying full early-stage exposure.

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Funded Exploration. Real Resource Potential.

Accelerating early-stage activity and reducing upfront risk, the program supports proponents through a defined two-phase approach:

Exploratory Drilling: Propose drilling locations, complete geological assessments, and establish environmental procedures
Flow Testing & Production: Evaluate well performance and demonstrate enhanced recovery techniques

A Call for Participation is now open with incentives structured to directly offset early-stage costs:

100% reimbursement of the first $2M CAD in eligible costs
50% reimbursement thereafter
Up to $5M CAD per well

This is a program built to move projects forward quickly and with reduced capital exposure.

Learn more about the program

Built for Industry Participation

Nova Scotia’s onshore basins represent one of the most underexplored natural gas opportunities in North America.

36 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas identified in place across just two basins
70% of sub-basins remain unevaluated, representing significant additional upside
Active research is underway to further define and unlock this potential

Opportunities span conventional and unconventional resources, including shale and tight gas formations.

With decades of geological research and new data being generated through the current program, Nova Scotia offers a rare combination: proven resource potential with meaningful room for discovery.

Clear Tenure. Defined Economics.

Nova Scotia offers a structured path from exploration through to production, with terms designed to support early entry and long-term development. Companies are granted exclusive rights to explore and develop, with exploration licences of up to nine years (3-year licence with up to 2 renewals), followed by a 10-year production licence.

The royalty framework is competitive and built to reduce early-stage risk. Conventional and unconventional projects benefit from a two-year royalty holiday, followed by a 10% rate. Coal bed methane is subject to a 5% royalty.

Entry is flexible, with industry-led nominations accepted at any time and access to available Crown land supporting new project development.

Why Nova Scotia?

A Stable Platform for Development

Nova Scotia offers global energy companies a competitive platform to grow and innovate.

Strategic location with direct access to North American and European markets
Highly skilled workforce in engineering, digital technologies, and ocean sciences
Strong research and innovation ecosystem supporting emerging energy technologies
Stable, business-friendly environment with competitive operating costs

Companies operating here benefit from strong partnerships, world-class research institutions, and government programs designed to accelerate innovation and commercialization.

Incentives, Programs and Services

Nova Scotia Capital Investment Tax Credit

Government of Nova Scotia

The Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) is a refundable corporate tax credit that can be claimed for capital costs directly related to acquiring qualified property for use in Nova Scotia...

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Answer a few quick questions about your business and we’ll direct you to contacts at Invest Nova Scotia, incentives, programs, and services you may be eligible for.

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Questions? Looking for more information? Get in touch today—we’d love to talk more about the many reasons you have to choose to do business in Nova Scotia, Canada.