Petro-Canada gas shortage affecting up to 90 stations in B.C., Alberta
21.08.2008 11:00
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- Source: cbc.ca
A problem at Petro-Canada's refinery near Edmonton has led to gas shortages or pumps running dry at as many as 90 Petro-Canada and independent stations in B.C. and Alberta, CBC News has learned. The Calgary-based company is still scrambling to fix a catalytic cracking unit necessary to refine fuel at the facility that broke earlier this month, said Petro-Canada spokeswoman Kelli Stevens. Stevens said about 120 people are working on the problem to get it repaired at any given time, but the company's best hope is that the refinery is up and running in a week. Calgary gas bar owner John Balanazario said he and other station owners have been forced to offer higher grade fuels at lower grade prices and absorb the losses out of their own pockets. "It's bad for business, but good for the customers," he said. Customer Bell Ainsworth said she can't understand why there is no regular gas left at the pump in the oil-rich province. "We produce it here," she told CBC News. "Why are we running out?" The company will face off Thursday in a conference call with angry independent gas station owners demanding compensation to make up for their growing losses. But Petro-Canada could take a long-term hit if shortages drag on, said Mike Percy, dean of the University of Alberta School of Business. "People may switch," Percy told CBC News. "Whether they switch in the long term, it depends on the convenience of the particular Petro-Canada station." RelatedInternal LinksPetro-Canada gas shortage costs retailersRefinery problems leave Petro-Canada out of gasConsumer HeadlinesListeriosis outbreak leaves 1 dead, 16 sick; meat recall expandedHealth officials confirmed Wednesday that one person has died and at least 16 others got sick from listeriosis.Petro-Canada gas shortage affecting up to 90 stations in B.C., AlbertaA problem at Petro-Canada's refinery near Edmonton has led to gas shortages or pumps running dry at as many as 90 stations in B.C. and Alberta, CBC News has learned. Ford Escape, Mitsubishi Outlander top SUV crash testsFour small sport utility vehicles received top scores in crash tests to be released Wednesday by the insurance industry, a sign of improvement compared with SUVs built earlier in the decade.Parents give more reliable assessment of children's activity than kids: StatsCanParents seem to give a more accurate assessment of their children's activity levels than the children themselves, according to a Statistics Canada study released Wednesday.EBay to emphasize fixed prices over auctions, report saysAuction site eBay is set to change its fee structure in order to emphasize fixed-price sales and move away from bidding wars, according to a report. Consumer Life FeaturesIN DEPTHEnvironmentHealth Canada to evaluate pigments, solventsTECHNOLOGY'Make' it yourselfMagazine foments DIY revolutionSAFETYRecalls and AdvisoriesYOUR VOICEFound your calling?Tell us why your job is a dream job!BLOGFood BytesThe colossal appetite of PhelpsBLOGComm-OdditiesBillionaire breaks real-estate record with $793M bidPeople who read this also read …
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