Storm hobbles Alberta refineries, cuts fuel supply

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) – A severe weekend storm in the Edmonton, Alberta, area knocked out power to two of the region’s three major refineries, worsening an already-tight gasoline supply situation, industry officials said on Tuesday.

Worst hit in the wind, hail and electrical storm was Petro-Canada’s 135,000 barrel a day refinery. Its major gasoline processing unit suffered damage when the plant was knocked off line, spokesman Jon Hamilton said.

Petro-Canada has been forced to temporarily ration fuel supplies to its retail and wholesale outlets and its associates, he said.

Imperial Oil Ltd’s 187,000 barrel a day refinery also suffered a power outage and is slowly ramping back up in a process that will take days, the company said.

Reuters