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Manitoba’s key energy resources include hydropower, crude oil, biomass and wind. In 2007, Manitoba exported $556 million worth of electrical energy and $299 million worth of petroleum, primarily to the United States. Imports included petroleum products, natural gas and minor amounts of coal.
Almost 7,000 people are employed in Manitoba’s petroleum and utility industries, about 1.2 per cent of the provinces employed labour force.
Energy accounts for approximately 4.1 per cent of Manitoba’s gross national product.
In 2007, the Manitoba government collected $141.6 million in royalties, land sales and rental fees from the petroleum industry and water rental fees from Manitoba Hydro.
Discover the key energy facts about Manitoba.
By the numbers (368KB PDF)
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Crude Oil
Crude oil was first discovered in Manitoba in 1951 near Daly in the southwest part of the province. Manitoba’s most productive well was drilled near Virden and has produced 1.89 million barrels of oil since June 1955.
Manitoba’s conventional crude oil reserves totalled 44.3 million barrels in 2007, sixth largest among all the provinces and territories, representing slightly less than one per cent of Canada’s conventional oil reserves.
Manitoba’s conventional crude oil production averaged 22,211 barrels per day, or about 1.6 per cent of Canada’s total conventional oil production. The province has 2,576 producing wells.
In 2007, Manitoba collected $17.6 in royalties, land rentals, sales bonuses and freehold taxes from the petroleum industry.
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Natural Gas Pipelines
The TransCanada Canadian Mainline delivers natural gas from the Alberta-Saskatchewan border east to the Québec-Vermont border and connects with other natural gas pipelines in Canada. In 2008, the Mainline transported an average 9.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Crude Oil Pipelines
Two liquids pipelines cross Manitoba.
The Enbridge System crude oil mainline extends from Edmonton, Alberta, across the Canadian prairies to the U.S. border near Gretna, Manitoba. The system’s capacity is approximately 2.2 million barrels per day.
Spectra Energy’s Empress System extends 900 kilometres from Spectra’s straddle plant in Burstall Saskatchewan to its terminus in Winnipeg. Capacity of the pipeline is 57,000 barrels of natural gas liquids per day.
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Hydroelectricity
Manitoba’s installed capacity for hydroelectric generation is 5,011 megawatts, about 89 per cent of the province’s total. Manitoba ranks fifth in hydroelectric generation in Canada.
Manitoba Hydro, the crown corporation that generates electricity for the province, has 14 hydroelectric generating stations on the Nelson, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Laurie rivers.
The three largest generating stations, Limestone (1,340 megawatts), Kettle (1,232 megawatts), and Long Spruce (1,010 megawatts), all on the Nelson River, generate about 71 per cent of Manitoba’s hydroelectricity.
Manitoba has one hydroelectric project under construction, the 200 megawatt Wuskwatum generation project on the Burntwood River, expected to be completed in 2011. Two other projects, Conwapta and Keeyask, both on the Nelson River, would add 2,180 megawatts installed capacity.
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Wind
Almost two per cent of Manitoba’s total installed capacity, or 104 megawatts is derived from wind power generated at AirSource Power Fund’s two wind farms at St. Leon, east of Winnipeg in the southern part of the province. AirSource sells the electricity to Manitoba Hydro as part of a 25-year agreement.
The 84.2-megawatt St. Leon Phase 2 wind farm is the largest in the province.
In November 2008, the Manitoba government announced its acceptance of an RFP proposal from Babcock & Brown Canada ULC, to develop a 300-megawatt wind farm, the largest in Canada, at St. Joseph near Letellier in southern Manitoba.
Manitoba has plans to increase its installed wind capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2115.
