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Manitoba’s key energy resources include hydropower, crude oil, biomass and wind. In 2010, Manitoba exported $311.1 million worth of electrical energy and $371 million worth of petroleum, primarily to the United States. Imports included petroleum products, natural gas and minor amounts of coal.
Approximately 9,600 people were employed in Manitoba’s petroleum and utility industries in 2010, about 1.5 per cent of the provinces employed labour force.
Energy accounted for approximately 4.3 per cent of Manitoba’s gross domestic product in 2010.
In 2010, the Manitoba government collected $145 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 (1MB 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 almost two million barrels of oil since June 1955.
At the end of 2010, Manitoba’s conventional crude oil reserves totalled 52.9 million barrels in 2010, sixth largest among all the provinces and territories, representing 1.1 per cent of Canada’s conventional oil reserves.
Manitoba’s conventional crude oil production averaged 30,326 barrels per day in 2010, or about 2.5 per cent of Canada’s total conventional oil production. The province has 3,298 oil wells capable of production.
In 2010, Manitoba collected $25.2 million 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.
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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 5,023 megawatts, about 87.7 per cent of the province’s total installed capacity. 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 (1,220 megawatts), and Long Spruce (1,010 megawatts), all on the Nelson River, represent 71 per cent of Manitoba’s installed hydro capacity.
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, if developed, add 2,180 megawatts installed capacity.
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Wind
Almost four per cent of Manitoba’s total installed capacity, or 242 megawatts is derived from wind power.
AirSource Power Fund has 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 138--megawatt St. Joseph wind farm near Letellier in southern Manitoba is the province’s largest.
Manitoba has plans to increase its installed wind capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2115.
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Thermal Electricity Generation
Manitoba’s only coal-fired thermal generating facility is in Brandon, and has an installed capacity of 95 megawatts.
Manitoba also has two natural gas fired generating stations, one in Brandon with 241 megawatts installed capacity, and one in Selkirk with 129 megawatts installed capacity.
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).
