Petroleum, natural gas land sales dip in Saskatchewan at time of volatile prices

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says the October sale of petroleum and natural gas rights brought in $9.8 million.

That brings total land-sale revenues to $45.5 million so far this year.

Economy Minister Bill Boyd says the province is cautiously optimistic that exploration activities on the land will prove successful.

Boyd also says that Saskatchewan's investment climate is proving attractive even at a time of volatile prices.

But the numbers are far below what the province raked in last year.

The October 2014 sale of petroleum and natural gas rights was $21.6 million and land sales were $179.6 million — nearly four times more than the total so far this year.

The Canadian Press