Oil Division

The Oil Division is part of the Energy Sector of Natural Resources Canada. The Oil Division provides expert policy advice to the Minister of Natural Resources, and others in the Government of Canada, on matters affecting Canada's oil economy. The Oil Division supports this function by monitoring and analyzing developments in oil production, trade, transportation, refining and marketing in Canada and abroad. The Oil Division also liases with other public and private sector organizations on oil-related issues.

The Oil Division also carries out Canada's responsibilities in oil emergency preparedness by:

• preparing and reviewing contingency plans for potential use during an oil supply shortage pursuant to the Energy Supplies Emergency Act,
  
• participating in the periodic oil sharing systems tests of the International Energy Agency (IEA), and
  
• representing Canada on the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions (IEA/SEQ) and its Standing Group on Oil Markets (IEA/SOM).

The Oil Division is also responsible for the implementation of the Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Initiative, an element of the Government of Canada's Action Plan 2000 to address the problem of climate change. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage the commercial application of technology to capture carbon dioxide and to store it in geological formations.