Gas shortages could last several weeks

Caroline Barghout

ctvwinnipeg.ca

It's not often you can say this: Winnipeg motorists are getting a great deal at some gas stations.

A fuel shortage has caused some to sell premium fuel for regular price.

As many as eight Superstore gas stations in Winnipeg are on their
last litres of regular gasoline, and they're not sure when they'll get
more.

The problem is with an Imperial Oil refinery in Edmonton. Production
has slowed down this week because of issues with some fuel processing
units.

The company's spokesperson, Gordon Wong, told CTV News that
customers can expect "sporadic shortages of gas and diesel fuel" at its
Esso stations in Western Canada "in the short term."

Starting on Feb. 24, Imperial Oil began apportioning fuel and
expects to continue doing so for at least a few more weeks. Wong said
that they are looking at their importing options to bring fuel into
western Canada.

Refinery running at half capacity

The Imperial Oil refinery in Edmonton is rated at 187,000 barrels of
crude oil a day but because of a problem with its fuel-processing
units, the plant is only running at about 50 per cent production
capacity.

The company says that is doing everything it can to get the refinery
back to full production but did not give a time frame for doing so.

That's reduced production by about 50 per cent and it means the fuel provider can't meet all its demand.

It's forced stations who've run out of regular to sell premium gasoline for the same price.

And now Brian Moodie is putting the good stuff into his old junker for the first time.

"It's not worth it [usually], it's my winter beater," he told CTV's Caroline Barghout.

The difference between regular and premium gasoline is the octane
level. Octane is defined as a fuel's resistance to knocking. Engine
knock occurs when fuel in a combustion chamber ignites before it
should. This disrupts the engine's operation. But electronic knock
sensors are now common and have nearly eliminated engine disruption.

Superstore officials say they hope to get a fuel shipment in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, Winnipeggers might actually get more for their money at the pumps.

Officials said they are working on resolving the problem as quickly as possible.

Imperial owns about 500 Esso stations in western Canada.