Fuel trucks are on their way to Inuvik, N.W.T., to ease a fuel shortage in the Arctic town, Mayor Derek Lindsay said.
Petroleum supplier Imperial Oil has contracted five trucks to drive from Alberta to Inuvik to deliver fuel.
Lindsay said it has been difficult to find enough trucks for the job, as most vehicles have been tied up with work in Alberta's oilpatch.
Calgary-based Imperial is still looking for specialty truckers to bring aviation fuel to Inuvik, located about 1,100 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife and 2,200 kilometres northwest of Calgary.
But the fuel resupply may be little consolation to consumers in the town of 3,500, who are preparing to pay 20 cents more per litre at the pumps.
"People who've lived here long enough are used to these kind of small crisis situations," Lindsay said. "It's only the newcomers to Inuvik that sort of get into a panic mode."
Imperial Oil will also be trucking surplus fuel south to Inuvik from Tuktoyaktuk, located 125 kilometres north of the town.
Gas stations and businesses in Inuvik have been ordered to ration fuel this month because of the shortfall, which began more than a week ago and which Imperial Oil blamed on barge shipping issues with Northern Transportation Company Ltd.
