CANADA

1. ENERGY, ECONOMIC AND ELECTRICITY INFORMATION

1.1 General Overview

Canada, occupying about 10 million km2 and having a population of over 30 million (Table 1), is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Canada's birth rate, at present, is 12 per 1,000 whereas death rate is seven per 1,000 with the result that the rate of natural population increase now stands at five per 1,000 persons. Canada has strong seasonal changes and large regional variations in temperature. The rigorous climate, the energy intensive nature of the country's industries, and the large distances between population centres produce a high per capita energy use.

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

1.1.1. Economic Indicators

Table 2 gives the statistical Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data and the GDP by sector.

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

1.1.2. Energy Situation

The energy sector is an important part of Canada's economy. The energy sector employs just under 300,000 Canadians (or about 1.8 per cent of the Canadian labour force) and accounts for about 6.2 per cent of Canada's GDP. However, there are marked regional differences in energy production and consumption. The Canadian energy sector enjoys a strong presence in all primary energy commodities and strong electricity and energy efficiency industries. Canada has more lakes and rivers than any other country in the world. Electricity accounts for about 15 per cent of domestic energy requirements. Canada's total hydropower potential is estimated at approximately 600 TWh. Canada is also well endowed with oil, natural gas, coal and uranium. Canada produces a surplus of crude oil above its domestic needs. In 2002, remaining established reserves of conventional crude oil amounted to 4.3 billion barrels. Proven reserves of natural gas were 1.7 trillion m3, about three per cent of global reserves. Canada has extensive coal reserves estimated at 6,578 million metric tonnes representing about one per cent of the world's coal resources. They represent about 90 times the 2002 Canadian production. Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan account for over 95 per cent of total output. Close to half of Canada's coal production is exported. Canada produces a wide range of metals and minerals and is the world's leading producer of uranium. As of January 1st 2003, its proven uranium deposits amount to 288,000 metric tonnes. Table 3 shows the energy resources in exajoules.

Canada has been a net exporter of most energy forms since 1969. In 2002, Canadian energy exports were valued at $Cdn50 billion. The United States is by far Canada's largest customer (over 90% of Canada's energy exports). Virtually all of Canada's exports of oil, natural gas and electricity and 41 per cent of uranium exports go to the US. The energy statistics are given in Table 4.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

1.2. Energy Policy

Canada's energy policy supports a variety of energy sources, including nuclear energy, in order to ensure a secure and "sustainable" energy future for Canadians. There are three major areas of active federal energy policy development: conventional and renewable energies, nuclear energy and environment.

The federal government's approach to energy policy has gradually evolved over the last two decades to a stronger market-driven and less interventionist approach to energy development. In recent years environmental pressures are shaping the energy policy agenda. Environmental protection, energy efficiency and the development of new alternative sources of energy remain high on the list of federal objectives for the energy sector. The focus now is on achieving a balance between economic, environmental and security objectives, i.e., sustainable development. In December 2002, Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol reaffirming its commitment to work with the international community to address this global problem. Meeting Kyoto targets is high on the federal government agenda.

With respect to nuclear energy, the federal government is supportive of the nuclear energy option for Canada and views nuclear energy as an important component of a diversified energy mix. The federal government provides funding for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL) nuclear R&D programme. The federal government also regulates the development and application of nuclear energy in Canada. Decision-making responsibility for planning, construction and operation of nuclear plants reside with the provinces and provincial electric power utilities. There are currently no firm plans to build additional nuclear plants in Canada although there is growing recognition that nuclear energy will be required to meet future demand and at the same time meet climate change and air quality commitments. Servicing of existing reactors and the refurbishment of some of the units is the present focus of the nuclear utilities.

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS(*)