Canada's methane mitigation industry is thriving, with well-paying jobs and investment likely to grow if companies and governments take steps to further reduce the harmful methane emissions that come from oil and gas production.
Canada’s Methane Opportunity: Innovation, Exports, Jobs, authored by Datu Research and commissioned by the Pembina Institute and Environmental Defense Fund, finds 359 locations across Canada where staff are either manufacturing methane mitigation technologies, providing leak detection services, or performing associated tasks (such as sales, equipment repair, and warehouses). In total, there are 97 methane mitigation companies headquartered in Canada, with at least an additional 42 companies that are headquartered elsewhere but operate in Canada.
These companies, most of which are classed as small businesses, are important drivers of economic growth and provide good jobs for skilled workers, many of whom will be able to transfer skills originally developed within the oil and gas sector. Notably, the report finds that median wages in methane mitigation companies range from $20 to $60.58 per hour, depending on job type. By comparison, the pay range for an oil field production worker in Canada is $29 to $66 per hour.
The rapid growth of Canada’s methane mitigation industry – and the development of world-leading technologies such as satellite monitoring and chemical injection systems – is testament to federal and provincial efforts to meet ambitious targets for methane emissions reductions. Robust federal and provincial regulations, combined with important incentive frameworks – such as the provision of carbon pricing offsets in Alberta for some methane mitigation technologies, as well as provincial funding for testing and innovation – have created a hospitable environment for companies to establish their businesses and develop innovative technologies, safe in the knowledge that there is strong domestic demand for their products.
With global methane mitigation efforts continuing to accelerate, Canadian companies are seeing international demand for their products and expertise, signalling that Canada’s methane mitigation industry has strong prospects as a source of export revenue for the country in the years ahead. Demand will likely grow as the energy transition accelerates and more countries seek proven ways to make their oil and gas industries as competitive as possible in a low-carbon world.
Quick facts
- A total of 136 methane mitigation firms are either headquartered in Canada or have sites (such as manufacturing facilities, sales offices, warehouses, repair shops) located in Canada.
- Of these companies, 55 are service firms and 81 are manufacturers.
- Most companies (97) are Canadian, while 42 have international headquarters but operate in Canada. Three of these international firms also list Canadian headquarters.
- Most are small businesses, meaning they have 1 to 99 paid employees.
- These companies provide high-quality, well-paying jobs. Dozens of job types are involved in manufacturing and services for mitigating methane, with relevant median wages ranging from $20 to $60.58 per hour depending on job type. By comparison, the pay range for an oil field production worker in Canada is $29 to $66 per hour.
- Demand for methane mitigation firms, and for associated workers, is likely to keep growing if governments progressively strengthen regulations to achieve ambitious methane reduction targets.
The situation in Alberta
The Alberta factsheet has further details, including the geographic spread, of companies operating in Alberta.
