Refinery problems leave Petro-Canada out of gas
12.08.2008 19:01
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- Source: cbc.ca
 This Petro-Canada station in Edmonton, showing only zeros for the price, is one of about a dozen in Alberta and B.C. that have run out of fuel. (CBC)About a dozen Petro-Canada gas stations in Alberta and B.C. have run dry and others are running out, the company said Tuesday. A catalytic cracking unit in a Petro-Canada refinery in Edmonton suffered a malfunction and had to be shut down last week, said spokesman Jon Hamilton. "That's kind of the finishing unit for gas at the plant. It's kind of like running a doughnut factory without a deep fryer. We just can't produce product right now," he said. He said drivers will know if a station is out of gas if they see its price sign with only zeros on it. As well, Petro-Canada will be offering supreme gas at regular price where supplies of regular have run out. Hamilton said the Calgary-based company is shipping fuel in from across Canada and internationally, but acknowledges customers will be going to Petro-Canada's competitors.  Petro-Canada's refinery in Edmonton suffered a malfunction last week, forcing the company to shut it down for repairs.(CBC)"People are somewhat brand loyal, but people tend to look for the lower price, so at this point another factor in their decision-making may be 'Well, they have gas, and they don't,' so they'll go there," he said. Stations that provide fuel to essential services and independent gas stations that buy their gasoline from Petro-Canada will be serviced before the company's own sites, Hamilton said. The shortage does not affect supplies of diesel or jet fuel in Western Canada. In March, a shutdown at Imperial Oil's Strathcona refinery near Edmonton caused gas shortages at Esso stations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C. and Manitoba. In November, a fire at a Shell refinery east of Edmonton caused a shortage of diesel fuel in Alberta. Last year, Ontario experienced similar gasoline shortages for several weeks after a fire at Imperial's Nanticoke refinery. With files from Canadian PressRelatedInternal LinksEsso pumps running on empty in Western CanadaShell fire squeezes Alberta's diesel supplyDemand crunch leaves Petro-Canada gas stations dryAudio Colleen Underwood reports: Refinery problems leave Petro-Canada out of gas (Runs: 1:15) Play: Real Media »Consumer HeadlinesOil prices ease but consumers still pinched at the pumpsCrude oil prices may be falling, but gasoline prices continue to hover, in part owing to higher wholesale margins and the weakening Canadian dollar, according to Liberal MP Dan McTeague.'Sin stocks' surge as cash-strapped consumers seek small comfortsEven as consumers face soaring energy costs, rising food prices and higher mortgages or rent, alcohol, cigarette and candy makers are all reporting healthy sales amid the gloom.Practising healthy eating pays off for kidsShowing parents how to make their homes a place where children will reach for a banana instead of chips may help preschoolers to learn healthier eating patterns, researchers say.Rolling Stone to shrink to standard magazine sizeRolling Stone magazine is abandoning its signature large format and will scale down to standard magazine size in an October redesign.Consumers lose heart, same-store sales fall: RonaHome-improvement giant Rona Inc. says its same-store sales fell 4.4 per cent in the second quarter, a setback it attributes to flagging consumer confidence. Consumer Life FeaturesIN DEPTHClean energyDo we need an Apollo project for energy?CLIMATE FORUMGore's challengeCan Canada be carbon-free in 10 years?SAFETYRecalls and Advisories- Skirts
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