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Fuel resupply coming for Kugaaruk
Kitikmeot community rationed gasoline for two days fearing it would run out before resupply

Jeanne Gagnon
Northern News Services
Published Monday, Aug 27, 2012

KUGAARUK/PELLY BAY
Fuel resupply will arrive nine days earlier than scheduled in Kugaaruk as the community is very low on gasoline.

Kugaaruk had rationed gasoline on Aug. 20 and 21, fearing it would run out before the resupply originally scheduled for Sept. 15 arrived.

But community fears were put to rest when the fuel shipping company agreed to change its schedule and now will arrive in the Kitikmeot community on Sept. 6 instead.

"Apparently, over the last month, a lot of gasoline has been gone and we contribute that to the amount of boating that is happening here now," said Troy Leblanc, acting manager of the Koomiut Co-op.

"We're not worried," said Grant Scott, director of the petroleum products division with the territorial government.

"We anticipate we'll make it through by transferring gas into one tank in order for the pumps to work and bringing the ship in earlier than originally planned and keeping an eye on the situation. I think we'll be OK."

He explained once the tanks are low, the pumping capability is lost.

One of the community's gasoline tank is at 7.42 per cent capacity as it has 34,233 litres left while the other is at eight per cent capacity as it has 36,908 litres left, Scott added.

Each tank has a capacity of 461,541 litres.

"The amount of gas that is still there will be enough to see us through until the ship comes in," said Scott.

The community realized it was running low on gasoline when one of the fuel lines sucked in air on Aug. 17 because one of the tanks was very low, explained Troy Leblanc, acting manager of the Koomiut Co-op.

"The rationing is lifted. Hopefully the chance of running out is gone," he said. "The community is very glad because the whale hunt is still on."

The amount of fuel in the tanks are measured at the end of each month, said Leblanc. Diesel and heating fuel is not affected, he added.

Scott said they are monitoring the situation daily.

Each community gets an amount of fuel based on previous annual consumption plus a buffer, he added, but this year, it wasn't enough for Kugaaruk.

"We'll be keeping an eye on the numbers and before the last ship leaves, we'll top up the tanks as much as we can so we don't have this problem next year," he said.

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