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Fuel resupply complete, but costs remain hidden

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pelly Bay (May 13/02) - Kugaaruk's fuel tanks are full again, thanks to an air resupply from Kugluktuk.

Brent Boddy of the Department of Public Works, said Thursday that gas from Hall Beach is usually used to resupply Kugaaruk, but the department chose to go with fuel from Kugluktuk rather that risk importing fuel that recent tests show damages snow-machine engines.

"Why import problems?" he asked.

First Air's Hercules aircraft flew in 200,000 litres of gasoline.

Increased population and construction demands in the community means the hamlet regularly runs short of diesel fuel. "The majority of that is for the DEW Line cleanup project," said Boddy.

The top-up will tide Kugaaruk over until a sealift resupplies the community with the 1.3 million litres in September.

The government is expanding the community's tank farm to prevent costly future refills. Construction is slated to begin next year, with a 2004 completion date.

As for the final cost of the current resupply mission, Susan Makpah, the director of the petroleum products divisions for the Department of Public Works, refused to release the figures.

"You'll have to apply (through access to information)," she replied to a News/North request.

The government regularly releases the value of contracts, but Makpah said she was told not to this year.

She declined to say who had directed her to withhold the information.

Calls to deputy minister Ross Mrazek were not returned by press time.

In 2000, the government paid $168,933 for 224,975 litres of diesel fuel. In 2001, it paid $488,079 for 297,000 litres of diesel and 298,000 litres of gas.

This year's resupply was considerably larger than the last two years.