Photo: Contributed

Several gas stations throughout the Okanagan are currently out of fuel. 

The shortage is the result of the scheduled maintenance shutdown in May of the Suncor refinery in Edmonton. 

Earlier in June, pumps in the North Okanagan ran dry but that seemed to be corrected.

Dan McTeague, a senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy.com says he is a bit surprised that stations are still running low on petrol. 

"It usually takes about a week to work its way through (after a shut down). It is not that there isn't supply out there, it is just that the supply is limited in terms of trying to catch up everywhere."

McTeague says facilities like Suncor plan for maintenance shutdowns, and store supplies in advance. However, the Suncor maintenance project ran long.

"It was supposed to be down for four weeks, it went well into the sixth week. So, as a result, it created shortages." 

That two-week gap created shortages right across Canada.  

The Edmonton refinery produces roughly a quarter of all gasoline for Western Canada — roughly 142,000 barrels produced every day. 

McTeague believes that by the weekend the problem in the Okanagan will have been corrected. 

"I understand production was back up on June 13, one would expect that by the weekend the company would have been able to replenish its facility in Kamloops."

McTeague also believes that drivers could be for a bit of a break at the pump. 

"As they play catch up I think you'll see the wholesale price drop a little bit, to be more in line with what they have been in the past. I'm still waiting for a net four cent wholesale price decrease for all of us in Western Canada." 

Depending on where you are filling up, gas in the Okanagan fluctuates between 135.9 on the low side and 142.9 on the high side.