Arviat drivers out of fuel

Arviat’s early morning drivers park outside the community’s co-op store. The co-op was scrambling to repair the hamlet’s only gas pump this week after it broke down Dec. 28. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Updated 1:00 p.m.

Drivers in Arviat likely celebrated the New Year by gassing up their vehicles, four days after a the community’s only gas pump broke down.

Drivers in Arviat have been watching their fuel gauges since Dec. 28, after the motor in the local gas dispenser failed. That left the community’s fuel distributor, Padlei Co-op, working to find ways to get fuel to local drivers.

A new motor and a pipe-fitter flew into Arviat on Dec.31, and gas to began to flow again about 5:30 p.m. that evening, said an Arctic Co-ops Ltd. spokesperson. The gas bar stayed open late New Year’s Eve to give drivers a chance to fill up.

The Padlei Co-op even opened up the community’s gas bar Jan. 1. On Jan. 2, the gas bar will be open until 6:00 p.m., while drivers can fill up from 9:00 a.m until 11:00 p.m. Jan. 3.

We are open today 9am to 6pm and tomorrow we are open from 9am to 11pm to serve the community versus our regular 9am to 6pm.

“We recognize the importance of fuel,” said ACL’s Rod Wilson.

Wilson pointed out that the community’s heating fuel was not affected by the breakdown.