Okanagan fuel shortage

Photo: Alanna Kelly

Shell gas station was without gas on June 12, 2018.

UPDATE: 2:40 p.m.

An internal message to Suncor employees blames fuel shortages at gas stations on seasonal maintenance.

In Western Canada, local refineries including Suncor, Imperial, Shell and Husky refineries in Alberta, Co-Op in Saskatchewan, and Husky and Parkland in B.C., supply fuel from Vancouver to Thunder Bay, the message says.

“Many of these facilities have been engaged in turnaround activities recently,” reads the message.

It goes on to say “a tightening in supply across the industry at this time is what happened this year” and “unfortunately, this included our own turnaround being extended."

Kris Smith, Suncor senior vice president, was quoted saying the company knows this is an inconvenience to their customers and employees.

“In the meantime, the team across the country has been working very hard to minimize the impact by sourcing additional supply and working on the logistics associated with getting it to impacted areas.”

Three stations in Kelowna were without fuel and another in Vernon is without as well.

Shell gas station on Highway 97 and Richter Street now has fuel as of Tuesday afternoon after it was out all morning.

Petro-Canada at Highway 97 and Leathead Road, Petro-Canada at Highway 33 and Dougall Road, and Petro-Canada at Highway 97 and Richter Street are all without fuel.

ORIGINAL: 1:50 p.m.

Three gas stations in Kelowna are without fuel Tuesday.

Both Petro-Canada and Shell, located at the corner of Richter Street and Harvey Avenue, have been without fuel since Tuesday morning.

An employee working at the Shell said they were told it was a "terminal issue."

Petro-Canada off Highway 33 and Dougall Road have not had fuel delivered since Monday.

A Petro-Canada station in Vernon is also out of gas.