Birol said countries are generally willing to pay more for energy that doesn\u2019t \u201ccreate any geopolitical threat,\u201d and Canada has \u201chuge potential.\u201d <\/p>\n
This is Birol\u2019s second visit to Canada in six weeks. He made similar comments<\/a> about Canada\u2019s potential and its need to move quickly, at a fireside chat with Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson in Ottawa in May. Birol also met with Prime Minister Mark Carney<\/a> during the same visit.<\/p>\n Since then, Birol said, he\u2019s met with many governments and knows many nations have reached out to Canada interested in its energy industry, with \u201cmore and more\u201d countries to come. Champagne echoed that. <\/p>\n \u201cEven those who produce in the Middle East, believe it or not, are calling us, they\u2019re saying now, why don\u2019t we produce in your country, so that we can even out in terms of the risk,\u201d Champagne said. <\/p>\n Champagne also talked about playing a \u201ckey role\u201d for Europe and for the Asia-Pacific region, noting Japan and South Korea specifically. <\/p>\n He referenced an understanding that even if the Strait of Hormuz issue is resolved, there are concerns a similar crisis could happen down the line, if not there, then in another strait\u2019s \u201cchoke point\u201d elsewhere in the world. <\/p>\n Much of the conversation, as part of the IEA\u2019s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Montreal, centred around nuclear and electricity in terms of key energy sources. <\/p>\n Birol said he\u2019s been referencing the \u201cage of electricity\u201d for the past two and a half years, saying while global energy demand is growing, the global demand for electricity is growing three times faster. <\/p>\n \u201cPeople often say demography is destiny. I would put it to you that energy is destiny,\u201d said Champagne, adding that electricity, in particular, is becoming key as \u201ceveryone is trying to decarbonize.\u201d <\/p>\n In addition to citing how Canada is \u201cone of the few countries\u201d that can certify a nuclear reactor, and \u201cwill be\u201d the first in the G7<\/a> to have small modular reactors (SMRs), Champagne also talked about the idea of selling Canada\u2019s nuclear industry as a service.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can bring our technology and our know-how into countries. Think about Eastern Europe, think about a number of countries who have looked at the CANDU (Canada deuterium uranium) reactors,\u201d Champagne said, citing \u201cenormous opportunities\u201d for Canada to play a \u201ckey role.\u201d <\/p>\n Birol said one of the new drivers of electricity demand are data centres for artificial intelligence. He noted that is \u201cvery important\u201d for Canada, which has seen a lot of interest. <\/p>\n According to Birol, a medium-sized data centre uses the same amount of electricity as a town with 100,000 households. He spoke about the \u201cnot medium, but huge\u201d data centres being built around the world<\/a>, which need electricity 24\/7. <\/p>\n Across Canada, there has been a push for more data centres, mentioned as part of the federal government\u2019s new AI strategy<\/a>, as well as pushback<\/a> in part about energy demands. <\/p>\n \u201cWhoever wins the AI race wins the geopolitical upper hand,\u201d said Birol, adding tech companies will choose countries with access to plentiful, cheap electricity 24\/7. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KDXZ6OJL45FIRMZ5Z2SVQ2LTOQ.JPG\")
Alberta nuclear energy future Workers assemble a new building at the Darlington nuclear facility in Courtice, Ont., on Oct. 30, 2014. Demand for electricity, nuclear <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Z7VSJ5J4BHRX7SY2V24TLXCUAY.jpg\")
A cat sleeps in an apartment window beside an air conditioner in Burnaby, B.C. on August 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Darryl Dyck A cat sleeps in an apartment window beside an air conditioner in Burnaby, B.C. on August 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Darryl Dyck AI, air conditioners drive energy demand <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/T7W3DPWKZRELBOZCR5TDIVGCUU.jpeg\")
AI Data Centre Ground has officially been broken at the site of Bell Canada’s AI data centre near Regina. (CTV News\/Gareth Dilistone) <\/p>\n