Arctic Canadian community runs low on gas
Gas to be flown in while fuel tanker delayed by ice
Repulse Bay, a predominantly Inuit community of around 748 people in Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, is running out of gas while a fuel tanker that’s coming to fill up the community’s tanks has been delayed by ice in the bay.
“People are getting a little nervous because for instance Rangers are going out on patrol on Friday and some have their gas and some don’t,” said John Kaufmann, general manager of the Naujat Co-op.
Kaufmann said there is about 10,000 to 12,000 litres of gas left in the bottom of the tank but it requires a special nozzle to pump it out.
A nozzle that arrived this week didn’t work. He said the Nunavut government is planning to fly in three plane loads of gas Thursday night.
Kaufmann said Repulse Bay is a fast-growing community and a lot of construction may have led to the gas shortage.
Last year Repulse Bay received 500,000 litres of gas. This year, they’re expecting 600,000 litres.
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