Both Canada's production and use of energy grew in 2010, with refined petroleum products and coal seeing the fastest growth, according to Statistics Canada.

Total energy production in the country grew by 3.6 percent from 2009 levels, according to the preliminary report released today.

The largest growth was for refined petroleum products (10.4 percent), coal (10 percent) and crude oil (6.8 percent). At the same time, production of less carbon intense energy dropped with declines in natural gas (-3.3 percent) and electricity (-3 percent).

Production grew to 21,213 petajoules, with one petajoule being enough to run Montreal's subway system for a year, the report said.

In the same period, energy use grew by 2.2 percent in Canada.

The combined residential and agriculture sectors are the biggest consumers of energy in the country after transportation. While its use of energy dropped by 1.6 percent, there were increases in forestry and logging (15.6 percent), mining, oil and gas extraction (14.2 percent), construction (13.5 percent) and manufacturing (2.1 percent).

In 2010 Canada exported about 9,700 petajoules of energy and energy products and imported some 3,600 petajoules.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.