Full List of All Refineries in Canada & Their Locations

This article will analyze the complete list of the refineries in Canada and their locations.

An oil refinery is an industrial plant that transforms or refines crude oil into different usable petroleum products. These petroleum products include:

• Gasoline: High-quality petrol for vehicles.
• Diesel: Fuel for commercial vehicles and transportation.
• Aviation Fuel: Jet fuel for airlines.
• Heating Oil: Fuel for residential and commercial heating systems.
• Petrochemical Feedstocks: Raw materials for chemical manufacturing

These petroleum products are also used for transportation, heating, generating electricity, and feedstock for making chemicals.

Read: Full List of All Refineries Operating in the UK & Their Locations

Complete List of All Refineries Operating in Canada

Canada is home to 16 refineries with a combined refining capacity of nearly 1.9 million barrels of oil daily.

Alberta has the largest share of refining capacity (30%), followed by Ontario and Quebec (21% each). In addition, New Brunswick (17%), Saskatchewan (8%), British Columbia (4%), and Newfoundland (1%).

Furthermore, in 2023, Canadian refineries operated at an average of 89% capacity and consumed 1.6 million barrels of crude oil.

The Irving Oil Refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, is Canada’s largest refinery, with a capacity of 320,000 barrels per day.

The 16 major crude oil refineries operating in Canada include:

Irving Oil Refinery

• Location: Saint John, New Brunswick,
• Capacity: 320,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 320,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1960
• Operator: Irving Oil
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, and marine fuels.
• Crude Source:
  • Global Imports: The Middle East, West Africa, and the North Sea (the UK & Norway).
  • The United States: Crude from shale oil fields, especially Texas and North Dakota.
  • Atlantic Canada: Domestic crude sourced from offshore fields, though it comprises a smaller share than imports.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Eastern Canada: The refinery supplies gasoline, diesel, and heating oil via pipelines to Atlantic Canada provinces, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec.
  • Northeastern United States: Irving Oil exports refined products via rail and pipelines to northeastern US states, including New England, Maine, and New York.
  • Industrial and Commercial Sectors: Irving Oil supplies industrial clients with refined fuels for their commercial operations.
  • Export Markets: Irving Oil exports refined products to Europe and the Caribbean via ships
  • Petrochemicals: The refinery also provides feedstocks to petrochemical industries in Eastern Canada.

The Irving Oil Refinery is the largest oil refinery in Canada and one of the most significant in North America. The refinery primarily serves markets in Canada’s Maritime provinces and the northeastern United States. Situated near the Atlantic Ocean, it provides easy access to crude oil imports from global markets. Thus, it is a strategic hub for supplying fuel to Canada and the northeastern United States.

Jean Gaulin Refinery

• Location: Levis, Quebec, near the St. Lawrence River, providing strategic access for transportation.
• Capacity: 235,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 197,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1960
• Operator: Valero Energy Corporation
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil, which are essential for both domestic consumption and export.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan.
  • United States: Sources shale oil from Texas & North Dakota.
  • Global Imports: The Middle East.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Quebec and Eastern Canada: Pipelines supply gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
  • Retail Network: Products distributed to Valero’s Ultramar-branded gas stations across Quebec and Eastern Canada.
  • Northeastern United States: The refinery exports refined products to northeastern US states via marine means.
  • Industrial Clients: Gaulin supplies fuels and feedstocks to industrial clients to support Quebec and Atlantic Canada industries.
  • Aviation: The refinery also supplies aviation fuel to local airports, contributing to the region’s aviation needs.

The Jean Gaulin Refinery, located in Levis, Quebec, is one of Canada’s critical oil refineries, operated by Valero Energy Corporation. Named after a famous local figure, the refinery plays a significant role in the refining and distributing petroleum products in Eastern Canada. The St Lawrence River, near the refinery, facilitates the transportation of crude oil inputs and refinished fuels by marine vessels, pipelines, and road transport.

Strathcona Refinery

• Location: Strathcona County, Alberta
• Capacity: 197,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 197,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1975
• Operator: Imperial Oil, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricating oils, petroleum waxes, heavy fuel oil, and asphalt.
• Crude Source:
  • Athabasca Oil Sands: Oil sands in northern Alberta.
  • Cold Lake Oil Sands: Another central area of oil sands extraction that supplies crude to the refinery.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Retail Fuel Stations: A substantial portion of Strathcona’s gasoline and diesel is sold at retail stations in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Commercial and Industrial Sectors: Strathcona supplies fuel directly to various industries in Western Canada.
  • Aviation Fuel: Strathcona provides jet fuel to Edmonton International Airport.
  • Petrochemicals: Strathcona also supplies feedstocks to nearby petrochemical plants in Alberta.

The Strathcona Refinery, located in Edmonton, Alberta, is another of Canada’s largest refineries. Operated by Imperial Oil, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, the refinery plays a paramount role in processing crude oil into various petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel. Located in Alberta, the refinery is strategically located close to one of the largest crude oil reserves in the world. Thus providing a reliable supply of feedstock from the oil sands. In addition, its location allows for the smooth distribution of refined products via pipelines, rail, and trucking, facilitating market access throughout Canada and beyond.

Edmonton Refinery

• Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Capacity: 146,000 barrels per day,
• 2023 capacity: 146,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1973
• Operator: Suncor Energy
• Products: Gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and asphalt.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin: Conventional oil and oil sands.
  • Sour and Heavy Crude: Oil sands operations.
  • The Enbridge Pipeline System is a crucial pipeline network transporting crude oil from production fields to refineries like the CRC across Western Canada.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Retail Fuel Stations: Suncor supplies its products to its network of retail service stations, branded as Petro-Canada.
  • Western Canada: The refinery supplies refined products, such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil, via pipelines primarily to the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
  • US Markets: The Edmonton Refinery can export refined products to the US and other international markets.

The Edmonton Refinery, located in Strathcona County, Alberta, is a major oil refinery in Canada. Suncor Energy owns and operates the refinery. It is one of the largest refineries in Canada, processing roughly 146,000 barrels of crude oil daily. As such, it plays an integral role in ensuring a reliable and stable supply of fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, to meet the needs of Alberta and other provinces in Canada.

Montreal Refinery

• Location: Montreal, Quebec Eastern part of the island of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Capacity: 137,000 barrels per day,
• 2023 capacity: 137,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1955
• Operator: Suncor Energy
• Products: Gasoline, Diesel fuel, Jet fuel, Heating oil, Asphalt, and Petrochemicals.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Heavy and light crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan.
  • Eastern Canada: Feedstock from Eastern Canadian oil fields.
  • United States: The refinery imports crude oil from states like North Dakota and Texas.
  • Global Markets: The Montreal Refinery may occasionally import crude oil from international markets.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Eastern Canada: The Montreal Refinery primarily serves the Quebec market and the Atlantic provinces, providing essential products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel via pipelines.
  • US Markets: The refinery can export refined products to the Northeast United States, including New York, via pipeline & rail.
  • Retail fuel Stations: Supports a network of retail fuel stations in Eastern Canada.
  • Commercial and Industrial Users: The refinery also serves various commercial and industrial customers, providing fuels for transportation, heating, and other operational needs.

The Montreal Refinery, located in Montreal, Quebec, is a major oil refinery owned and operated by Suncor Energy. It is the largest oil refinery in Eastern Canada. Located in the eastern part of the island of Montreal and on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, it is an essential node in Canada’s energy supply chain. The refinery can process heavy, medium, and light crudes.

Co-op Refinery

• Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
• Capacity: 130,000 barrels per day,
• 2023 capacity: 130,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1955
• Operator: Federated Co-operatives Limited
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, propane, butane, asphalt, and aviation fuel.
• Crude Source:
  • Conventional Crude: Extracted from oil fields in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
  • Synthetic Crude: Extracted from Alberta’s oil sands.
  • The Enbridge Pipeline System is a crucial pipeline network transporting crude oil from production fields to refineries like the CRC across Western Canada.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Prairies: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil are distributed via pipelines and trucking networks across the Prairie provinces, including Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
  • Commercial and Industrial Supply: Supplies refined products to various industries in the Prairies.
  • Retail Fuel Stations: Co-op supplies its products to its network of retail service stations, branded as CO-OP.

The Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) is a major oil refinery in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is owned and operated by Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), one of Canada’s largest retail co-operatives. The CRC makes various petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, butane, and asphalt. Its strategic location in Regina, Saskatchewan, enables it to serve key markets across the Prairie provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba) and parts of British Columbia.

Sarnia Refinery

• Location: Sarnia, Ontario
• Capacity: 120,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 123,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1912
• Operator: Imperial Oil, Subsidiary of ExxonMobil
• Products: Gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, heating oil, and asphalt.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canadian Crude: Heavy crude grade and oil sands from Alberta.
  • US Crude: Refinery imports light and medium-grade crude oil from the United States, particularly the Midwest and Gulf Coast.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Ontario & Quebec: The Sarnia refinery is a major supplier of fuels and other petroleum products in Ontario and Quebec, serving large metropolitan areas like Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton.
  • US Midwest and Northeast: The refinery exports refined products to US Midwest and Northeast regions like Michigan, Ohio, and New York.
  • The refinery also supports the Petrochemical Corridor in Sarnia, supplying petrochemical products that feed into the area’s plastics, rubber, and chemical manufacturing industries.

The Sarnia Refinery, also known as the Imperial Oil Refinery, is a major oil refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It is owned and operated by ExxonMobil Canada, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation. The Sarnia Refinery produces various petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, and asphalt. It is situated within Canada’s Chemical Valley. It is critical in producing and supplying refined petroleum products across Ontario and Quebec. In addition, the refinery produces petrochemical feedstocks crucial for transportation, manufacturing, and chemicals.

Nanticoke Refinery

• Location: Nanticoke, Ontario
• Capacity: 113,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 113,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1973
• Operator: Imperial Oil, Subsidiary of ExxonMobil
• Products: Gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, heating oil, and various petrochemical products.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Heavy and light crude oils from Alberta & British Columbia are transported via the Trans Mountain Pipeline and Enbridge Mainline System.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Regional Focus: The Nanticoke refinery primarily serves the southern Ontario market, supplying a significant portion of the region’s fuel needs.
  • Retail Gas Stations: Supplies to numerous Esso-branded gas stations in southern Ontario.
  • Commercial Customers: Provides diesel and other fuels to businesses, transportation companies, and industries in the region.
  • Aviation Sector: Supplies jet fuel to nearby local & international airports.

The Nanticoke refinery, located in Nanticoke, is a significant oil processing facility owned & operated by Imperial Oil Limited. Established in 1973, the refinery has a processing capacity of approximately 113,000 barrels per day, predominantly focusing on heavy and light crude oils sourced from Western Canada. Located near population centres, the refinery meets southern Ontario’s high energy demands, including cities like Toronto, Hamilton, and London. The refinery is situated near major highways, thus enabling the transportation of refined products to various markets via trucks. Also, the refinery is linked to crucial pipeline networks, such as the Trans Mountain and Enbridge Mainline systems. These two pipelines receive crude oil supplies from Western Canada and distribute refined products to the Southern Ontario region.

Scotford Refinery

• Location: Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
• Capacity: 100,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 100,000 per day
• Date of Operation: 1984
• Operator: Shell Canada
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, propane, butane, and petrochemical feedstocks.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Bitumen from the Athabasca oil sands in Alberta
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Western Canada: The refinery primarily serves Western Canada by supplying gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemical products to Alberta and its neighbouring provinces via pipelines.
  • Retail Gas Stations: Supplies to numerous Shell-branded gas stations in the region.
  • Petrochemicals: Strathcona also supplies feedstocks to nearby petrochemical plants in Alberta

The refinery in Fort Saskatchewan is a significant oil processing facility owned & operated by Shell Canada. Established in 1984, it forms part of the larger Scotford Complex, including a refinery and an upgrader. Thus, the refinery can process and transform heavy crude oil and bitumen from the oil sands into synthetic crude oil. Furthermore, the refinery processes synthetic crude oil, converting it into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemical feedstocks. The refinery products are primarily supplied to the Western Canada market through pipeline and rail cars. Its location provides strategic advantages for receiving crude oil and distributing refined products across Canada.

Sarnia Refinery

• Location: Sarnia, Ontario
• Capacity: 85,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 85,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1953
• Operator: Suncor Energy
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, petrochemicals.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan. This includes both conventional crude oil and heavy crude from oil sands operations.
  • US Bakken Formation: Crude oil from the Bakken Formation, which spans parts of North Dakota, Montana, and Canada.
  • US Gulf Coast: Oil imported from the US Gulf Coast.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Canada: The refinery supplies refined fuels to retail outlets and commercial & industrial users in Ontario and Eastern Canada through pipelines.
  • United States: The refinery exports some of its products to the states in the United States, such as Michigan and Ohio, via trucks and rail.
  • Retail stations: The refinery distributes gasoline to numerous Petro-Canada branded retail stations and other independent gas stations in Ontario and parts of the United States.
  • Aviation Fuel: The refinery supplies jet fuel to local & international airports in Ontario, Eastern Canada, and parts of the United States.
  • Asphalt: The refinery produces asphalt for road construction and maintenance.
  • Petrochemicals: Suncor supplies feedstocks for the petrochemical industry.

The Sarnia Refinery, also known as the Suncor Energy Refinery, is a major oil refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It is owned and operated by Suncor Energy. Sarnia Refinery can refine light and heavy crude into refined products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, and asphalt. In addition, the refinery produces petrochemical feedstocks crucial for transportation, manufacturing, and chemicals.

Corunna Refinery

• Location: Corunna, Ontario
• Capacity: 85,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 85,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1948
• Operator: Shell Canada
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, petrochemicals.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Oil sands from Alberta provide heavy oil.
  • US Markets: The refinery imports crude oil from various US sources, particularly Michigan and North Dakota.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Canada: The refinery supplies refined fuels to retail outlets and commercial & industrial users in Ontario through pipelines.
  • United States: The refinery exports some of its products to the states in the United States, such as Michigan and Ohio, via trucks and rail.
  • Retail stations: The refinery distributes gasoline to numerous Petro-Canada branded retail stations and other independent gas stations in Ontario.

The Corunna Refinery is a major oil refinery in Corunna, Ontario. It is owned and operated by Shell Canada. Corunna refinery can refine light and heavy crude into refined products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, etc., for Ontario and US markets and the Great Lakes region. Established in 1948, it is strategically situated in an area called “Chemical Valley,” which hosts many petrochemical and refining facilities. Also, Corunna Refinery’s location is close to critical transport routes, including the St. Clair River, rail lines, and highways for shipping refined products and receiving crude feedstock. The refinery is near critical transport routes, including the St. Clair River, rail lines, and highways for shipping refined products and receiving crude feedstock.

Sturgeon Refinery

• Location: Sturgeon County, Alberta
• Capacity: 79,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 79,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 2012
• Operator: North West Redwater Partnership
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, naphtha, jet fuel, propane, heating oil.
• Crude Source:
  • Western Canada: Oil sands from Alberta provide heavy oil.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Canada: The refinery supplies refined fuels to retail outlets and commercial & industrial users in Alberta through pipelines.

The Sturgeon Refinery, located in Alberta, is a crucial refinery operating in Canada. The plant is designed to process Alberta’s oil sands bitumen into refined products like low-sulfur diesel. Operated by the North West Redwater Partnership, the refinery primarily supplies Alberta with refined products. The refinery’s primary crude source is diluted bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands. Its proximity to Edmonton’s distribution infrastructure allows for smooth transport within Alberta and nearby regions.

Burnaby Refinery

• Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
• Capacity: 55,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 55,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1935
• Operator: Parkland Corporation
• Products: Gasoline, Diesel, Jet fuel.
• Crude Source:
  • Light crude oil is sourced from Western Canada. It is primarily delivered through the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which transports crude oil from Alberta to British Columbia.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • British Columbia: The Burnaby Refinery primarily supplies gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to the British Columbia market. Jet fuel is used at domestic and international airports. Diesel is used in BC’s transportation and construction industries. Gasoline is sold at Parkland-branded retail gas stations.

The Burnaby Refinery, located in Burnaby, British Columbia, is a critical Canadian refinery owned by Parkland Corporation. Operating since the 1935s, it has refined primarily light crude oil sourced from Western Canada, with crude oil arriving via the Trans Mountain Pipeline. With a capacity of around 55,000 barrels per day, the Burnaby Refinery supplies refined products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and others to meet British Columbia’s fuel needs.

Lloydminster Refinery

• Location: Lloydminster, Alberta
• Capacity: 29,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 29,000 barrels per day
• Date of Operation: 1935
• Operator: Cenovus Energy
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petrochemicals.
• Crude Source:
  • Heavy Oil and Bitumen: The refinery is explicitly designed to process heavy crude oil and bitumen, which are plentiful in the nearby Lloydminster area, part of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.
• Market Reach & Distribution:
  • Western Canada: The refinery primarily serves markets in Alberta and Saskatchewan, given its location in Lloydminster, which borders both provinces through pipelines, trucks or rail.

The Lloydminster Refinery is a critical heavy oil refining facility in Lloydminster, Alberta, operated by Cenovus Energy). Established in 1975, the refinery was developed to process heavy crude oil and bitumen, primarily sourced from the surrounding oil sands and conventional heavy oil reservoirs in Western Canada. With a processing capacity of about 29,000 barrels per day, the refinery produces diverse products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemical feedstocks. Also, its strategic location allows for efficient access to local crude oil supplies and distribution to nearby markets in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and other regions across Canada.

Notable Mentions

• Moose Jaw Refinery: 22,000 per day capacity
• Prince George Refinery: 12,000 per day capacity