Snowdrift (July 07/03) - A fuel shortage in Lutsel K'e is almost over. The remote community on Great Slave Lake has been rationing diesel for about a month, but a barge with 800,000 litres of fuel is expected on July 8.

According to Charlie Catholique, who works with the Co-op in Lutsel K'e, the reason for the fuel shortage was a cold winter and an increase in consumption.

"We have more buildings every year and with aircraft and heavy equipment we used more fuel," he said.

Mike Aumond, director of petroleum products division with the GNWT, said "the big thing was aviation. We sold about 50,000 litres to planes that we did not in the past."

Catholique said this was the first time in 22 years with the co-op that he's seen a fuel shortage that forced the community to save fuel for its water and sewer trucks.