Statistics Canada says, as the impact of COVID-19 persisted, September marked the continuation of a trend downward in energy production in Canada while demand for energy products remained low. Production of crude oil and equivalent products fell 7.6 per cent. That was the sixth consecutive monthly year-over-year drop. Heavy crude oil was down 7.8 per cent year over year, mostly because of reduced production in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Global demand and consumption of crude remained moderate in September.

Exports of crude oil and equivalent products fell 8.9 per cent, the lowest level since February 2018. Exports to the United States by rail, truck and marine were down about 48 per cent as demand for additional transport capacity to supplement the pipelines remained soft. Demand for Canadian crude remained low in the U-S due to restrictions caused by COVID-19 and recent hurricanes which led to the temporary shutdown of some refineries.

Production of marketable natural gas fell 3.9 per cent. Deliveries to the residential sector increased 14.4 per cent mostly on higher demand in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.

Electricity generation in Canada fell 1.7 per cent. Generation from combustible fuels was down 3.6 per cent because of mostly lower volumes generated in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Consumption was down for the third consecutive month. It dropped 1.1 per cent. It was mostly due to weak industrial and commercial activity in September in Alberta and Saskatchewan.