Canada: Refinery problems spark shortages at Shell stations

Problems at one of three major oil refineries in Alberta have sparked a supply shortage for Shell retail and commercial gasoline stations in Western Canada, and might exacerbate an already tight market, experts said Tuesday.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s 98,000-barrel-per-day Scotford refinery has been running at reduced rates for several days, prompting the company to ration gasoline and diesel supplies to Shell stations in Saskatchewan, Alberta and northern British Columbia.


Retailers already are reporting low gasoline inventories or missing deliveries early this week, according to local news sources.

“We are certainly making arrangements to import available fuel from other areas of Canada or the U.S. where it’s possible,” Shell spokeswoman Jana Masters said from Calgary.

Calgary Herald