Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 01/02) - The government of Nunavut is sending back the 10 million litres of remaining bad gas on the next sealift.

The original plan was to salvage the troublesome fuel, which showed up last year and damaged engines across the Baffin and Kivalliq regions, by mixing it with quality supplies.

But Finance Minister Kelvin Ng said last week that experts with the Alberta Research Council couldn't guarantee that mixing good and bad gas would solve the problem.

"Rather than take a chance and have another year of this, we decided to take the only guaranteed route -- replacement," he said.

Until the next sealift, Nunavummiut are stuck with the bad gas. But at least compensation checks are in the mail.

Ng said the government has started issuing interim payments of 75 per cent of repair costs to those snowmobile and outboard motor owners with damaged engines.

The remaining 25 per cent will come in the fall once adjusters inspect the machines, he said.

To date, the territorial government has received about 225 claims. So far, the government is not compensating automobile owners for repair costs.

An Alberta Research Council team is examining damaged parts of vehicles to determine the effects of the sub-standard fuel.

A government-issued press release warns people not to blend gasoline with additives or chemicals not normally used in two-stroke engines, such as diesel fuel or naphtha.

"We're cautioning people not to be part-time scientists," said Ng.

Boaters should also take precautions this summer by travelling with others and packing a spare motor and reliable communications gear.

The government hopes to recover repair and wasted-gas costs from the supplier, Northern Transportation Company Ltd.

"Obviously, we think a big part of the liability rests with them," said Ng, adding that he doesn't expect recovering the money will be a struggle. "I don't think anyone wants to face a lengthy lawsuit," he said.

Kirk Vander Ploeg, NTCL's marketing manager in Iqaluit, said the company is negotiating with the government and with its insurance companies.

"Who's going to be paying what is still being discussed," he said.