Kevin Bissett, The Canadian Press
Irving Oil has decided to stop its involvement in tidal power research in the Bay of Fundy over concerns about the viability of the technology.

Irving Oil officials weren't willing to be interviewed on Thursday but in an email company spokeswoman Lesley MacLeod said: "I can confirm that due to policy concerns and uncertainty around the true viability of tidal technologies, we have decided to conclude our work on our tidal project."

New Brunswick Energy Minister Jack Keir said he was informed by the company last week but Irving officials didn't give specifics about why they weren't going forward.

"I suspect part of the problem is there isn't a technology yet — certainly commercialized technology for tidal power — that's going to allow for commercialization of generation of electricity," Keir said.

Two years ago, Irving signed a lease with the province for sites along the bay where research could be conducted in partnership with the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, N.B.

Keir said until there is technology that will allow for commercialized production of power from the tides, it will be difficult to get large companies involved.

Meanwhile, Nova Scotia's energy minister said the Irving decision would have no impact on the province's commitment to develop test projects in the bay's Minas Passage.

Bill Estabrooks said the province remained committed to harnessing tidal power as an alternate source of energy.

"We have an obligation, a duty and a responsibility to respond because Nova Scotians have said tidal power is something they are interested in pursuing and we are going to continue to do that," said Estabrooks.

The government has contributed money toward a test project run by Nova Scotia Power and Irish-based OpenHydro. The project hit a major snag earlier this month after currents broke off two blades from a massive 400-tonne turbine.

Estabrooks said all involved are determined to learn what it takes to develop the massive currents.

"We certainly are not interested in walking away," he said. "We are interested in making this work and that's our plan."

Keir said the best part about the research done by Irving and Huntsman Marine was that it only involved private-sector money.The province will likely issue another call for proposals, he said, to see if anyone else is interested in doing such research in New Brunswick.

"I believe that when the time comes, and there's a technology that's going to be commercialized that will make it viable to generate electricity using the tides, New Brunswick is going to be there," Keir said.

In the meantime, he said, the government remains committed to the development of renewable energy and will focus on expanding the 300 megawatts of wind power now generated in the province.

— With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax