Trafigura electricity export application

Summary#

The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator has asked for public views on an application from Trafigura Canada Limited (dated 3 July 2025) to export electricity to the United States. The company asks to be allowed to export up to 5 000 000 MWh a year for 10 years. This is an application under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act and not a final decision.

What it does#

• Asks for permission to export up to 5 000 000 MWh of combined firm and interruptible electricity each year for 10 years.
• Opens a public comment process so the Commission can gather views before it either issues a permit or refers the application for a licensing procedure.
• Asks commenters to speak specifically to:
  • the effect of the export on provinces other than the one the electricity would come from, and
  • whether the applicant informed Canadian buyers who had expressed interest and gave them a fair chance to buy on the same terms.
• The applicant will provide a copy of its application on request (email: PowerOpsComplianceNA@trafigura.com). The full application is also on the CER website.
• Deadline to file written submissions is 11 August 2025. The applicant may file answers to submissions by 2 September 2025.

Who's affected#

• Trafigura Canada Limited (the company asking to export electricity).
• Electricity market participants: generators, wholesalers, and utilities that trade or sell electricity across provinces or to the United States.
• Canadian buyers who have declared interest in purchasing electricity domestically — the Commission specifically wants to know if they were offered a fair chance to buy.
• Provincial governments and regulators that may be concerned about supply, prices, or grid effects in their province. The notice does not say which province the electricity would be exported from.

Why it matters#

• Large, long-term electricity exports can affect supply and prices in Canadian markets, and may matter to electricity buyers and provincial planners.
• The Commission is checking that Canadian buyers were given the opportunity to buy first on equal terms. That protects domestic access to electricity before exports proceed.
• This is a step in the federal review process. It does not mean the export is approved. The Commission will consider the public input before making a decision.