The 2026 Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show brought energy sector leaders to the Border City this week, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe highlighting innovation and growth opportunities in oil, nuclear power and artificial intelligence.
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The biannual conference, held Sept. 16 and 17, drew 208 exhibitors and attendees from around the world, according to event organizers.
“It’s a pretty positive and optimistic show this year,” said Andrew Oracheski, chairman of the 2026 event, in an interview with CBC News.
Nuclear reactor proposed for northwest Saskatchewan
Premier Moe made news at the show by suggesting one or even two large-scale 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors could be built in northwest Saskatchewan.
“We’ve done a fair amount of work over a decade ago on various sites along the North Saskatchewan River, and we’re … reviving some of that information,” Moe said.
Moe also noted the province is looking to increase power generation to support over $100 billion in private sector capital currently under construction in Saskatchewan. The power is needed to support growing energy and mining investment, including uranium sector projects north of Lloydminster.
The proposal revisits work done a decade earlier on the potential Bruce Power nuclear reactor project in the northwest, which did not proceed.
Heavy oil sector shows strong momentum
Energy and Resources Minister Chris Beaudry said Saskatchewan’s oil and gas sector creates thousands of jobs and generates significant investment.
“The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show is an opportunity to celebrate the people and companies whose innovation and hard work have made northwest Saskatchewan a leader in heavy oil production,” Beaudry said in a provincial release.
Strathcona Resources Ltd., a Calgary-based oil and gas company with operations in the region, is aiming to more than double its production within five years. The company currently produces approximately 125,000 barrels of oil per day and aims to reach more than 200,000 barrels per day, with much of the growth coming from expanded thermal operations in Saskatchewan and the Cold Lake area in Alberta.
Dale Babiak, Strathcona’s chief operating officer, discussed the company’s expansion plans at the show.
Federal policy shifts welcomed
Premier Moe welcomed recent federal policy changes, including the removal of Bill C-69 and a new capital cost incentive announced this week to attract billion-dollar projects to Canada.
He said the shift toward “one project, one review, one year” is key to attracting investment.
“This is language that we have not heard out of any federal government for over a decade,” Moe said. “Those policy shifts are going to make the opportunity for investment to flow very real.”
The oil and gas sector employs more than 25,000 people in Saskatchewan. Last year, the value of oil and gas production reached $11.5 billion, generating significant royalty revenue that supports public services and infrastructure across the province.
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