You’ve probably seen the name on a map and done a double-take. Come By Chance. It sounds like something out of a folk song or a place where people just sort of ended up after a wrong turn at Goobies. But honestly, if you live in Newfoundland and Labrador—or if you follow the volatile world of North Atlantic energy—this town is anything but a random accident. It’s the industrial heartbeat of the Avalon Isthmus.
Come By Chance Newfoundland is a place of massive contradictions. On one hand, you have this tiny, quiet community of about 200 people. On the other, you have a sprawling, high-stakes oil refinery that has basically been the protagonist of a decades-long financial soap opera. It’s been heralded as a savior, criticized as an environmental headache, shut down, sold for pennies, and recently, reborn as a pioneer in green energy.
Most people think "oil" when they hear the name. They aren't wrong. However, the story is shifting. Right now, Come By Chance is at the center of a massive transition toward renewable diesel, making it one of the most interesting case studies in the global energy shift.
The Weird History of the Name and the Place
It wasn't always an industrial hub. The name actually dates back centuries. Some say it comes from the surprise of explorers finding the harbor in the fog. Others think it’s just a nod to the "chance" encounter of the site. It’s located right at the neck of the Avalon Peninsula, a strategic strip of land that connects the main part of the island to the Avalon.
In the 1970s, John Shaheen, a flamboyant businessman, decided this was the spot for a world-class refinery. It was a big deal. The Queen’s cousin even showed up for the opening. But the timing was terrible. The global oil markets tanked, and the refinery went bankrupt within years, leaving a massive debt and a ghost-town vibe. It sat idle for a long time. People thought it was over.
Then came the 80s. A company called Newfoundland Processing Ltd. bought it for a literal $1. That isn't a typo. One dollar.
Since then, the facility has passed through the hands of Vitol, Harvest Operations, and Silverpeak. Each owner brought new promises. Some kept them; others struggled. It’s a tough business. Refining oil in the North Atlantic means dealing with brutal winters, complex shipping lanes, and the constant pressure of global price fluctuations.
The 2020 Crash and the Braya Renewable Fuels Pivot
Everything changed in 2020. When the pandemic hit, global travel stopped. Nobody was flying. Nobody was driving. The demand for jet fuel and gasoline evaporated almost overnight. The refinery, then owned by Silverpeak, went into "warm standby."
For the locals in Come By Chance and the surrounding towns like Sunnyside and Arnold’s Cove, this was terrifying. This refinery provides hundreds of high-paying jobs. It’s the economic engine of the region. Without it, the "chance" in the town's name started to feel a lot more like "no chance."
But then came Braya Renewable Fuels.
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Instead of just refining traditional crude oil, the plan shifted toward renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This isn't just a PR move. It’s a massive engineering overhaul. They are basically taking the existing infrastructure—the pipes, the tanks, the docks—and retrofitting them to process plant-based oils and animal fats into fuel that can run in modern engines with a much lower carbon footprint.
It’s a gamble. It’s also the future.
Why Renewable Diesel Matters Here
Renewable diesel is different from biodiesel. You can drop it straight into a truck or a plane without modifying the engine. That’s the selling point. Because Come By Chance Newfoundland is located right on deep water with access to international shipping lanes, it’s perfectly positioned to export this "green" fuel to Europe and the United States, where environmental regulations are getting stricter by the day.
Life in the Town: It’s Not Just a Refinery
If you drive into the town itself, you might miss it if you’re staring at the refinery towers. The town is tucked away. It’s a classic Newfoundland coastal community. Small houses, friendly neighbors, and a lot of wind.
People here are resilient. They’ve lived through the boom-and-bust cycles of the refinery for fifty years. When the refinery is doing well, the local service stations are busy, the rental market is tight, and there’s a sense of energy in the air. When it’s down, the silence is heavy.
- Population: Around 200-230 residents.
- Main Employer: Braya Renewable Fuels (and the various contractors associated with the site).
- Geography: Situated at the head of Placentia Bay.
- Wildlife: It’s a prime spot for birdwatching and occasionally seeing whales in the bay.
The relationship between the town and the industry is complicated. There have been safety concerns over the years, including a tragic explosion in 2022 that injured several workers and claimed the life of one. These events leave deep scars in a community this small. Everyone knows everyone. When something happens at "the plant," it happens to the whole town.
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The Economic Ripple Effect
You can't talk about Come By Chance Newfoundland without talking about the "Isthmus effect." The economic impact stretches far beyond the town borders.
Arnold’s Cove, just down the road, has become a hub for workers and families. Clarenville, the nearest major service center, relies heavily on the refinery’s presence for its retail and housing sectors. If the refinery were to disappear permanently, the entire eastern region of the island would feel a massive chill.
There’s also the Trans-Canada Highway factor. Because Come By Chance is right off the main road, it’s a frequent stop for travelers. But the heavy industry also brings heavy traffic. Big rigs, fuel trucks, and specialized equipment are a constant presence. It’s an industrial corridor in the middle of a wilderness.
What People Often Get Wrong About Come By Chance
A lot of people think the refinery is just an old, polluting relic. That’s a bit of an oversimplification. Is it a heavy industrial site? Yes. But the shift to renewables is real. The investment being poured into the site now is aimed at making it one of the most advanced "green" fuel hubs in North America.
Another misconception is that the town is just a "company town." While the refinery is the biggest player, the people there have a long history of fishing and independence. They were there before the oil, and they’ll be there long after.
The Future: Green Hydrogen and Beyond
The talk in the industry circles isn't just about diesel anymore. There is significant chatter about green hydrogen.
Newfoundland has two things in abundance: wind and water. By using wind energy to power electrolyzers, companies can split water into oxygen and hydrogen. Come By Chance is a prime candidate for this kind of development because it already has the industrial footprint and the shipping access.
It sounds like science fiction to some, but the provincial government and private investors are betting big on it. If it works, Come By Chance Newfoundland won't just be an "oil town" anymore. It’ll be an "energy town."
Environmental Realities
We have to be honest about the environmental footprint. Refining—whether it's crude or vegetable oil—is an intensive process. The site is located on the shores of Placentia Bay, which is a sensitive marine environment.
Monitoring the water quality and ensuring air emissions are within limits is a constant battle. The transition to renewable fuels is expected to lower the overall carbon intensity of the products being made, but the physical operation of a massive industrial site will always have an impact. Local advocacy groups and provincial regulators keep a close eye on the "Chance."
Actionable Insights for Visitors and Workers
If you are planning to visit or are looking into the area for work, here is the ground-level reality.
For Travelers:
Don't just look at the refinery. Take the turn-off and drive into the town. There are some beautiful walking paths and the view of the bay is spectacular. It’s a great place to stretch your legs if you’re doing the long haul across the TCH. Just be mindful that this is a residential area, not a tourist theme park.
For Job Seekers:
The facility is often looking for specialized trades—pipefitters, welders, engineers, and safety officers. Most of the hiring happens through contractors or the Braya corporate site. Housing in the immediate area (Arnold's Cove, Come By Chance) can be scarce when there’s a major "turnaround" (a massive maintenance period), so many workers live in Clarenville or even commute from the St. John's area.
For Investors and Analysts:
Keep your eyes on the federal subsidies for green energy. The viability of the renewable transition at Come By Chance Newfoundland is heavily influenced by government policy and carbon credit markets. If the price of carbon changes, the math for the refinery changes.
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Why This Matters Now
The world is trying to figure out how to stop using old-school fossil fuels without crashing the economy. Come By Chance is basically a living laboratory for that experiment. If a 50-year-old oil refinery in rural Newfoundland can successfully pivot to 21st-century green fuels, it provides a blueprint for industrial sites all over the world.
It’s about survival. For the workers, it’s about keeping their mortgages paid. For the province, it’s about tax revenue. For the planet, it’s about finding a way to move things without burning more carbon than we have to.
Come By Chance isn't just a funny name on a map. It’s a high-stakes bet on the future of energy. And honestly, it’s a bet that the entire province is rooting for.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge:
- Monitor the Braya Renewable Fuels official project updates for the latest on their production capacity and export deals.
- Check the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador environmental registry for any new filings regarding green hydrogen projects in the Isthmus area.
- If you're visiting, look up the Estuary Trail in Come By Chance for a hike that offers a unique perspective on where the industrial world meets the natural one.