Oil refinery capacity in Canada 2004-2023

Canada had an oil refinery capacity of 1.95 million barrels per day in 2023. In recent years, the Alberta oil sands were accounted for in the proven oil reserves under the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (now known as the Energy Resources Conservation Board). 

Canada's oil refining industry

The total oil refinery capacity in Canada reached an average of over 2 million barrels per day in 2019. Comparatively, the United States has the largest oil refinery capacity worldwide, which amounted to approximately 18 million barrels per day in recent years. In Alberta, Canada, many are divided on the issue of the industry adding a large-scale greenfield oil refinery for the oil sands. Supporters argue that it would keep Canada’s oil wealth in Alberta, while critics claim that the endeavor would not be economically beneficial. Instead, others have debated the benefits of adding refining capacity to the eastern provinces.

Oil refineries in Canada

There are 15 refineries in Canada, which are operated across most of the Canadian provinces. Manitoba and Prince Edward Island as well as the territories did not have any refining capacity. Daily oil refinery throughputs in Canada decreased from 1.96 million barrels per day in 2004 to about 1.65 million barrels per day in 2021. Imperial Oil, Shell, and PetroCanada are the only companies that operate more than one refinery while marketing products on a national-scale. Canada is a net exporter of refined petroleum products and crude oil, exporting primarily to the United States. Canada exported 4.67 million barrels of oil per day in 2021, making it one of the largest oil exporters in the world.