BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN
Several gas stations in Greater Sudbury were out of gas Thursday morning after accidents at both of Imperial Oil’s refineries in the province.
The Your Independent Grocer gas station on Lorne St. ran out of gas Wednesday afternoon and wasn’t expected to get another shipment until Thursday afternoon. Gas prices jumped from from a little over 80 cents to almost a dollar a litre.
There was an explosion and fire in December at Imperial’s refinery in Sarnia, which provides gas to Esso, Canadian Tire and a number of independent companies. A fire last week at the company’s Nanticoke refinery cut gas production in half.
“I’ve heard of other gas stations in the city who are out of gas. Just listen to the news,” said Bev, a gas attendant at the Your Independent Grocer station. She did not want her last name used.
“People just didn’t think it would happen here. I don’t have a car myself. Some are worried. Some are filling up their jerry cans.”
Up the street at another station, customers were benefiting from the gas shortage as this station didn’t have any regular gas remaining, so was offering premium gas at regular prices.
The Shell Station in Chelmsford ran out of gas at 4 pm Wednesday and got a shipment at 8:30 am Thursday.
“Oh God, I’m happy I got a frigging load,” said the manager of the station, who also did not want to be named.
“I know there’s about three or four Shell stations out in Sudbury. I ordered another load and he told me it would be three or four days before I get another one. It’s a real mess. We can’t go without product for one day because it puts us so behind.
“It funny that Shell hasn’t mentioned anything (about running out of gas) because it was just Esso and Imperial that mentioned it on the news.”
Drivers wanting to gas up in Elliot Lake were out of luck Wednesday because gas ran out at the only working station in the city. Gas has now been delivered to the community.
The Shell station on Centennial Dr. off Paris St. was low on gas Thursday morning.
“It won’t last very long, and there’s no truck for us. We’re really low,” said gas attendant Jessica Myllynen. “The customers are in a panic. I filled up yesterday myself.”
Several other gas stations in Greater Sudbury, including Esso stations, said they had gas when contacted by Northern Life.
