Survey of Industrial Processes: Retail gasoline outlets
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In 2009, over 1.1 million gasoline deliveries were made and 40.7 billion litres of gasoline were sold across Canada. These deliveries corresponded to the capacity of over 700,000 fully loaded trucks, enough trucks to fill two lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway bumper-to-bumper and coast-to-coast.
Number and age of sites
While the number of motor vehicles on Canadian roads has increased by more than three million during the last decade, the number of retail gasoline outlets has significantly decreased.
According to an industry source, two decades ago there were more than 21,000 retail gasoline outlets in Canada. In 2009, results from this survey show that there were fewer than 12,000 outlets across the country (see map).
Approximately 39% of retail gasoline outlets identified the age of their sites as being 10 years or younger, 50% between 11 and 30 years, 10% between 31 and 60 years. A handful of outlets reported nearly a century of service at the same location.
Employment
In 2009, retail gasoline outlets provided employment for over 95,000 people, half of whom were full-time employees. According to the 2006 Census, 44% of full-time employees of retail gas stations across Canada were female wage earners.
Note to readers
The survey of industrial processes (SIP) is a pilot survey that was conducted to assess the feasibility of collecting data on operational activities and engineering processes of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Canada. For the 2009 reference period, the SIP pilot survey covered all retail gasoline outlets, including marinas with gas docks, across Canada.
This release focuses on general statistics relating to equipments, processes, and activities reported by retail gasoline outlets at the national level. The population consisted of establishments primarily engaged in retailing gasoline fuels whether or not the outlet was operated in conjunction with a convenience store, repair garage, restaurant or other type of operation. Diesel-only outlets and card-locks were excluded.
Data from this SIP pilot survey will be used to calculate estimates for gasoline evaporative losses from outlets across Canada. These estimates will be published in an upcoming report. The report will address evaporative losses associated with on-site gasoline truck deliveries, storage tanks, vehicle refuelling, and other activities/processes related to this SME sector of the Canadian economy. Statistics Canada is currently assessing the utility of the data collected from this pilot survey and the related modelling methods for estimating evaporative losses from gasoline outlets across Canada.
Storage tanks
In 2009, more than 29,000 gasoline storage tanks, both above-ground and underground, were in operation at retail gasoline outlets across Canada. Almost 90% of these storage tanks were reported as being underground.
Close to 41% of all gasoline tanks at retail gasoline outlets were less than 10 years old; 56% were between 10 and 25 years old; and 3% were more than 25 years old.
Fuel pumps
In 2009, over 43,000 fuel pumps or dispensers were in operation at retail gasoline outlets. Newer dispensers with digital meter displays accounted for almost 87% of the total.
About 60% of all dispensers were less than 10 years old, 38% were between 10 and 25 years old, and 2% were more than 25 years old.
Absorbents and nozzle spills
Nozzle spills are an issue at most gasoline outlets. Absorbents are used to soak up gasoline spilled during refuelling of vehicles. Retail gas stations used about 286 tonnes of absorbents during 2009. With this quantity of absorbents used, the total amount of gasoline spilled while refuelling during 2009 could fill as much as two gasoline delivery trucks.
Marinas with gas docks
In 2009, there were 279 marinas with gas docks across Canada. These docks offered full-serve gasoline refuelling for recreational boat owners who would have otherwise filled their own portable gasoline containers at nearby on-road outlets.
About 380 gasoline storage tanks, almost equally found above and below ground, were in operation at marinas across Canada. The total amount of gasoline sold by all marinas accounted for 0.1% of total national gasoline sales.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5163.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the information officer (613-951-0297; environ@statcan.gc.ca), Environment Accounts and Statistics Division.
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