Primary energy production in Canada increased five per cent in 2017 to 20,741 petajoules, following a 3.1 per cent increase in 2016, according to Statistics Canada.
In a report released on Thursday, the federal agency said crude oil accounted for the largest proportion of primary energy production in Canada in 2017 at 46.4 per cent, followed by natural gas (34.4 per cent), primary electricity (9.0 per cent), total coal (6.4 per cent) and gas plant natural gas liquids (3.8 per cent).
“It was the eighth consecutive year in which crude oil accounted for the largest share of primary energy production,” said StatsCan.
“Exports of Canadian energy and energy products increased 5.6 per cent in 2017 to 13,253 petajoules. Canada exported 79.0 per cent of its crude oil production and 46.3 per cent of its marketable natural gas in 2017. Imports of energy increased 3.7 per cent in 2017 to 3,784 petajoules. Crude oil accounted for 49.7 per cent of imports, followed by natural gas (24.7 per cent).”
The federal agency also said energy consumption in Canada increased 2.2 per cent to 8,231 petajoules in 2017, following a 1.8 per cent decrease in 2016.
“Energy use increased in four of six sectors: industrial (+4.0 per cent), residential (+3.4 per cent), commercial and other institutional (+3.0 per cent) and agriculture (+0.2 per cent). Transportation and public administration saw a small decrease in energy use,” it said.
“Within the industrial sector, energy consumption increased in mining and oil and gas extraction (+8.3 per cent), construction (+4.2 per cent), forestry and logging and support activities (+1.9 per cent) and manufacturing (+1.2 per cent).”
Refined petroleum products (38.7 per cent) were the main source of energy consumed in Canada in 2017, followed by natural gas (35.2 per cent) and electricity (22.3 per cent), added the federal agency.
“Ontario, Alberta and Quebec continued to account for the majority of energy consumed in Canada. In 2017, their combined share of total energy consumption was 73.7 per cent,” it said.
“In 2017, seven provinces recorded increases in energy consumption compared with 2016. Alberta (+6.9 per cent) saw the largest increase, followed by Manitoba (+3.5 per cent), British Columbia (+2.8 per cent), Saskatchewan (+2.5 per cent), Nova Scotia (+1.7 per cent), Prince Edward Island (+1.0 per cent) and Ontario (+0.5 per cent). Energy consumption decreased in three regions in 2017 compared with 2016. The largest decrease was in the territories (-13.6 per cent), followed by New Brunswick (-5.5 per cent) and Newfoundland and Labrador (-2.6 per cent).”
Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran Calgary-based journalist who worked for 35 years for the Calgary Herald, including 12 years as a senior business writer.
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