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Petroleum-fired thermal electricity is the main source of energy produced in Nunavut.
All of Nunavut’s electricity, heating and transportation needs are met by imported fossil fuel.
Two oil fields, seven gas fields and seven oil and gas fields have been discovered in the Nunavut Arctic islands. Only one oil field was produced from 1985 to 1996. There is currently no hydrocarbon production in Nunavut.
Discover the key energy facts about Nunavut.
By the numbers (260KB PDF)
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Crude Oil
Discovered crude oil resources in Nunavut are estimated at 322.9 million barrels, with an ultimate potential resource of 2,662 million barrels.
The Bent Horn oil field on Cameron Island was discovered in 1974, and produced 2.8 million barrels of oil from 185 to 1996. The oil was shipped by tanker from the Arctic to a Montreal refinery every summer.
The Balaena oil field south of Ellef Ringnes Island has reserves of 16.45 million barrels.
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Natural Gas
Discovered natural gas resources in Nunavut are estimated at 16 trillion cubic feet with an ultimate potential resource of 58.3 trillion cubic feet.
The largest natural gas field in the Nunavut Arctic islands is Drake Point on Melville Island with 5.4 trillion cubic feet of reserves.
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Thermal Electricity Generation
Nunavut is unique in the way that each community has their own individual electricity generation and distribution system; they do not rely on any kind of integrated grid.
In 2009 Nunavut Power Corporation, operated diesel plants 27 plants which generated and distributed electricity to 25 communities.
Nunavut’s total installed capacity amounts to 54.3 megawatts.
Electricity generation in Nunavut totalled 191 gigawatt-hours in 2008.
Thermal electricity facilities can generate power several different ways, including natural gas (represented by circles on the map), oil/diesel generation (squares), coal (triangles) and biomass (diamonds).
