Mining and Energy Industries Generating Stations, 1997

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Abstract

This map shows the 53 generating stations that were operated by companies of the mining or energy industries. There is no obvious pattern for plant locations - the plants are widely-scattered across Canada. However, there are some patterns for the fuels used: natural gas is predominant for plants in Alberta and Ontario, and hydro-electric is used by most of the plants in Quebec.

This group consists of companies in North American Industrial Classification System Sub-Sectors 211 (Energy), 212 (Mining), 331 (Smelting), and also specific Industries 324 110 (Petroleum Refineries), 325 110 (Petrochemical Manufacturing) and 486 210 (Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas). The stations for these industries are scattered across Canada. The stations are often relatively large - the largest has a capacity of 912 000 kilowatts.

There are 53 stations in this group, of which 17 are hydro and 36 are thermal. The energy industry almost invariably uses natural gas as the fuel for its plants. The generating stations for mining-related industries in this group vary in their fuels - generally those in more remote areas use diesel fuel.

The largest plants in this group are the seven operated by the aluminum industry. The process for making aluminum needs large amounts of electric power and, consequently, the industry has almost invariably located where it can develop or make use of large hydro sites, even when these might be in a relatively remote area.