Responsibly produced
As a global leader in ESG, Canada ensures its natural gas and oil resources are developed and transported under the highest environmental, human rights and labour standards in the world.
What we mean by responsible
In this report, the word responsible refers to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices followed by an industry. And when it comes to natural gas and oil, Canadian energy is among the most responsible in the world.
As the world evolves to meet energy challenges – climate change in conjunction with rising world energy demand – people are more conscious of the energy they use.
This is why responsible natural gas and oil are important, as reflected in ESG rankings of countries measured by a number of organizations, including the World Economic Forum and the World Bank.
- Environment includes measures like environmental protection and emissions reduction.
- Social is a comprehensive measure of quality of life, which is impacted by democracy, human rights, equality and fairness.
- Governance includes regulatory quality, rule of law and accountability, among others.
Canada tops ESG rankings
Approximately 60 per cent of the world’s current energy needs are met by natural gas and oil, and with forecasts indicating demand will remain higher than 50 per cent in 2040, responsible natural gas and oil matter.
As a leader in all ESG categories, Canada is setting performance benchmarks that all Canadians can be proud of. CEPA’s focus on safety and the environment, through programs like Integrity First, and our members’ socio-economic contributions ensure the transportation of Canadian natural gas and oil is among the most responsible in the world.
And with Canada’s considerable resources – Canada is the world’s fourth-largest producer of natural gas and oil – the world can count on a reliable supply of responsible energy.
Responsibly transported
Pipelines in Canada are world-class in safety performance and environmental standards. They are the safest, most responsible way to transport the energy you need every day.
Responsibly used
Natural gas heats our homes and provides cost-effective energy to industry. Natural gas is also powering electrification, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) can help lower global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when it’s used to displace higher-emitting fuels around the world.
Responsibly TRANSFORMED
Natural gas and oil are transformed into thousands of essential things we count on every day. Everything from your toothbrush to your smartphone to your bike helmet to the shingles on your roof are made from materials produced from natural gas and oil.
Responsibly supporting society
Bringing prosperity to Canadians and enabling millions of livelihoods across Canada, contributing billions of dollars into the economy. And many Indigenous communities support the responsible development of natural gas and oil as a path to prosperity.
Canada is a leader in all ESG categories
The weighted ranking of ESG standards for nations with the largest oil reserves where full ESG data is available. Includes Worldwide Governance Indicators 2018, Social Progress Index 2019 and Yale Environmental Performance Index 2020.
The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) consists of transmission pipeline companies responsible for transporting the majority of Canada’s natural gas and crude oil to markets across North America.
For 27 years, CEPA members have been working together to safely and responsibly transport the natural gas and oil that Canada and the world need. Thanks to ongoing collaboration and best practices facilitated through programs like CEPA Integrity First®, CEPA members’ efforts have resulted in technology, innovation, safety and environmental protection practices that rank among the best in the world — practices that CEPA members are continuously improving.
Canadians will need natural gas and oil long into the future to fuel life and prosperity in Canada. CEPA members are committed to working together to deliver your energy in the safest, most responsible way.
CEPA membership is made up of the Canadian transmission pipeline companies responsible for transporting the majority of Canada’s natural gas and oil. These transmission pipelines are the large sophisticated energy highways that transport natural gas and oil across the continent to where people need them, and into ports for export to the world.
*Enbridge data included as an independent contributor. Alliance Pipeline is included because it is owned by Enbridge and Pembina.
To ensure Canada’s natural gas and oil transmission pipelines maintain their world-leading practices, we drive continuous improvement through collaboration with stakeholders, including all levels of government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry organizations and CEPA members.
Energy is intertwined into so many aspects of life in Canada that our role as collaborators is vital to successfully getting Canadians and the world the responsible energy they need.
About this report
Canadians have told us they want more transparency regarding the safety, environmental protection and socio-economic contributions of their natural gas and oil, as well as our ongoing efforts to ensure their energy is transported responsibly.
The 2020 Transmission Pipeline Industry Performance Report captures CEPA member performance in 2019. This voluntary report produced by CEPA (our sixth annual) is part of our industry’s commitment to transparency and accountability as CEPA members work together to share best practices, learn from one another and collectively improve the entire industry.
2019 Pipeline Performance Highlights
CEPA members safely delivered Canada’s natural gas and oil across Canada and for export to nations throughout the world with zero significant liquids incidents and just one significant natural gas incident.
We are committed to transparency and accountability. Data from this report is assembled by CEPA members and also provided to both federal and provincial regulators.
NATURAL GAS
What is one cubic foot of natural gas equivalent to?
To give you an idea, a standard balloon will hold about 5 cubic feet of helium.
CRUDE OIL
What is one barrel of crude oil equivalent to?
About 160 litres. Or approximately the size of a small bathtub.
SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS
There was one significant incident – a natural gas leak of 12.7 million cubic feet – and zero significant liquids incidents in 2019. While significant incidents decreased from six in 2018, no incident is acceptable as CEPA members are committed to a goal of zero incidents.
What is a significant incident?
A significant incident is defined as an incident with one or more of the following: serious injury or fatality, liquid release of greater than 8 cubic metres (50 barrels), unintentional ignition or fire, or rupture or break of a pipeline.
TOTAL RIGHTS-OF-WAY INCIDENTS (2015–2019)
There were nine total liquids and natural gas rights-of-way incidents in 2019.
What is a right-of-way incident?
Any incident that occurs on CEPA members’ rights-of-way in Canada. A right-of-way is a strip of land of varying widths that may contain one or more pipelines.
2019 Socio-economic Contribution Highlights
Transmission pipelines deliver far more than responsible natural gas and oil for Canada and the world. They also provide jobs, funds for municipalities and revenue to other levels of government for important programs, including health care and education.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
In 2019, CEPA members invested $47.3 million in community initiatives across Canada, such as safety, environment and educational programs, including $3.7 million in Indigenous communities.
Member Story
CEPA members support communities across Canada, like TC Energy’s Build Strong program that provides valuable tools and resources to first responders, funds educational programs, supports important community needs and strengthens environmental stewardship and sustainability.
LOCAL SPEND
In 2019, CEPA members collectively spent almost $2.9 billion to obtain personnel, services, supplies and equipment from local sources, including $528 million from Indigenous suppliers.
Member Story
CEPA members believe in building communities. For example, Trans Mountain signed agreements with 59 Indigenous groups in BC and Alberta that represent more than $500 million in benefits and opportunities for Indigenous communities.
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT JOBS
In 2019, CEPA member activities resulted in 13,434 full-time equivalent jobs in Canada.
Member Story
CEPA members support a number of vital training programs to create valuable jobs, like Inter Pipelines’ Women Building Futures partnership.
EMPLOYEE DONATIONS
Employees from CEPA member companies donated a total of $5.5 million to various charities in 2019.
Member Story
CEPA member employee donation programs provide millions to vital community programs, like ATCO’s EPIC program, a workplace fundraising campaign that supports 800 charitable and non-profit organizations around the world. EPIC raised over $2.76 million in 2019.
Why responsible pipelines are important
Because delivering the natural gas and oil you need should be done in the safest, most responsible way.
Canada and the world need natural gas and oil and will long into the future. So it makes sense that the natural gas and oil we count on are produced and transported using the highest safety and ESG standards, like the practices that Canadian transmission pipelines follow right now, and continuously improve upon.
Pipelines matter for Canada
About 71 per cent1 of fuel needs in Canada today are met by natural gas and oil. And 92 per cent of Canada’s oil and 100 per cent of its natural gas are shipped by pipeline. While the proportion of energy production from alternative sources like solar and wind is rising, forecasts indicate natural gas and oil could still provide over 50 per cent of the world’s energy in 2040.2
Pipelines matter for the world
As the world addresses climate change, Canada’s responsible natural gas and oil transported by pipelines will be an important part of the solution. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada can help lower global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when it’s used to displace higher-emitting fuels for power generation. Canada’s abundant supply of natural gas (1,220 trillion cubic feet, enough to meet Canada’s needs for 300 years at current production levels) is transported to LNG terminals by pipeline.
Pipelines matter for your prosperity
Pipelines directly provide thousands of jobs in communities across Canada, as well as support hundreds of thousands of jobs in the energy industry. Plus, natural gas and oil power millions of jobs in industries that can’t exist without them, including fishing, farming, mining, aviation, forestry and transportation.3 Since 2005, natural gas and oil have contributed close to $1 trillion to Canada’s GDP,4 and over 90 per cent of that energy is transported in pipelines.
Pipelines matter for our society
Pipelines generate billions of dollars for vital government programs like health care and education – over $200 billion since 2008.5
Pipelines matter to you
Pipelines safely transport the natural gas and oil you count on for travelling, heating your home, cooking, transporting goods, growing food and so much more. Natural gas and oil are also transformed into thousands of things you count on every day, from your toothbrush and smartphone to the roads you drive on and the roof over your head.
Sources:
1. Natural Resources Canada, Energy Factbook 2018-2019
2. International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2019
3. Statistics Canada, Labour Force Characteristics by Industry
4. Statistics Canada Natural Resources Satellite Account (NRSA)
5. RBC Economics, Energy Matters
Improving safety for the entire industry
Through CEPA Integrity First®, CEPA members work collaboratively to share their knowledge and innovations to drive industry-wide performance improvements in pipeline safety and environmental protection.