How Fuels Get Where They Need To Go
The infrastructure and logistics behind Canada’s fuel supply
Every time we fill a vehicle, a plane takes off, or a farm or business receives fuel, a complex supply network is working behind the scenes.
Fuel moves through a connected system of refineries, pipelines, terminals, storage facilities, railways and trucks before reaching the people and businesses that rely on it.
The illustration below shows how the different parts of this network work together to move fuel where it is needed.
Every link in the network matters
Canada’s fuel supply depends on the infrastructure that connects fuel production with communities and markets across the country.
Pipelines
Pipelines move large volumes of crude oil, condensate and refined petroleum products over long distances, connecting supply, refineries and major distribution points.
Refineries
Refineries process crude oil and other feedstocks into products such as gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel.
Terminals and storage
Terminals receive, store and distribute fuel to regional markets. They can receive products through pipelines, marine vessels, rail and other supply points and provide important blending and loading capacity.
Rail and trucking
Rail and trucks provide additional ways to move fuel through the supply network. Tanker trucks make the final connection from terminals to retail stations, cardlocks, airports, farms, businesses and critical services.
When a supply route is disrupted
Fuel infrastructure is highly reliable, but maintenance, weather, equipment issues or other disruptions can temporarily affect a normal supply route.
When that happens, industry supply and logistics teams assess available fuel, inventories, alternative supply points and transportation capacity to help keep fuel moving to where it is most needed.
There is rarely one simple substitute for a major supply route. Different transportation modes have different capacities and logistical constraints, so maintaining supply can require a combination of available options.
Keeping fuel moving
Reliable fuel supply depends on more than any one pipeline, refinery or transportation mode. It relies on a connected network of infrastructure, transportation options and people working together to move fuel where it is needed.
Canada’s petroleum resources provide an important foundation for energy security, while the infrastructure and skilled people that connect those resources to Canadians help keep fuel moving across the country.
