Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Project energy context
Table 4 provides projections made by the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de
la Faune (MRNF) regarding the evolution of natural gas demand in Quebec by sector
of activity on the 2026 horizon.
Table 4 Evolution of natural gas demand in Quebec between 2006 and
2026
Sector
Consumption
in Mm 3 2006
Projected consumption
in Mm 3 2026
Manufacturing 3,389 4,519
Residential 564 339
Commercial 1,836 2,146
Electricity generation
(Bécancour)
706 706
Transportation 0 0
Other 282 339
Source: adapted from DB71, p. 9.
Wider use of natural gas as a cleaner fuel is part of Ontario’s and Quebec’s
strategies and plans both for energy development and for overall carbon dioxide
emissions reduction. A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Energy (OME)
informed the Panel that natural gas would play a more important role in that
province’s plans in both energy policy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
reduction efforts (DQ93.1). He referred to the plans to shut down coal-fired electricity
generation facilities and the future role of natural gas as a reliable way to meet the
province’s electricity demand.
On this point, the Ontario Power Authority has signed contracts for electricity
generation capacity above 3,800 MW for combined-cycle, gas-fired generating
stations that are set for commissioning between 2007 and 2010. The Ontario Ministry
also informed the Panel that it heartily welcomes the possible completion of the
project under study as well as other similar LNG projects.
The Ontario Power Authority also signed contracts for gas-fired combined electricityheat
generation for a total capacity of 414 MW to be commissioned between 2008
and 2010. According to OME, that would effectively increase natural gas demand in
Ontario by nearly 30 percent, a projection which does not include possible demand
increases for other uses (commercial, residential, industrial).
74 Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure