Gas station owners in Inuvik, N.W.T., are rationing their fuel this week, as petroleum supplier Imperial Oil does not have enough to keep everyone in the Arctic town running until the next annual shipment arrives by barge.

Blaming shipping delays last fall, officials with Imperial Oil have told local businesses to ration fuel so that supplies are available for essential services, such as home heating, aviation and transportation.

But James Firth, who manages a local gas bar, told CBC News he was left in the dark about the fuel shortage. He will pump out the last of his diesel supply sometime this week, and run out of gasoline by mid-February, he said.

"I feel betrayed. I mean, if we knew this a long time ago, we could have been ready for it. But you know, just before Christmas they tell us," Firth told CBC News on Friday.

"It's almost like they're trying to hide it, but sooner or later it's got to come out, so we better tell them now, you know?"

Firth said officials with the Calgary-based Imperial Oil told him that only six million litres of fuel were sent to Inuvik by barge in its fall barge shipment — half the amount the town of 3,500 usually receives.

As a result of the shortage, Firth said he stands to lose about $500,000 if he cannot find another way to obtain diesel.

Imperial Oil spokesman Gordon Wong said the Northern Transportation Company Ltd., which handles barge shipments to northern communities, faced numerous shipping delays and was unable to deliver enough fuel to the community.

"This past barging season, the company that handles transportation experienced some difficulties," Wong said. "They had some problems."

Officials with NTCL said there was a "discrepancy" in the amount of fuel that was shipped, but refused to provide further details.

Wong said local gas stations needing more fuel will have to have it trucked up from the southern provinces. Firth said he may have to resort to that, but added it would hike gas prices for everyone.

"Right now we're getting quotes from people that may want to bring some up for us. I'm not sure at the end of the day what it's going to mean for people that go to the pumps, what the price is going to be," he said.

"If I can't get any fuel from down south, I have to shut the pump down for diesel, I guess."