GN ready to airlift fuel to Igloolik if needed after shipment delayed 9 days
Territorial government says hamlet’s remaining stock should be ‘sufficient’ until resupply arrives
Residents in Igloolik are still waiting on their annual shipment of diesel fuel after it didn’t arrive as scheduled last week. (File photo by Madalyn Howitt)
The Government of Nunavut is on hand to fly diesel up to Igloolik, but officials don’t expect it will be needed.
The hamlet’s annual resupply of fuel was initially expected to arrive Sept. 17. That shipment has been delayed by nine days and now is expected to arrive Saturday.
Igloolik relies on diesel fuel for generating electricity, home heating and for the trucks that provide drinking water and sewage services. With reserves dwindling, the hamlet had asked residents to conserve water, and put the water trucks on a reduced schedule.
John Ivey, Igloolik’s senior administrative officer, said the hamlet has since lifted these restrictions after the territory assured him that the community wouldn’t be left without fuel.
The territory’s Petroleum Products Division is prepared to airlift fuel to the community if necessary, said Greg Belanger, a spokesperson for Transportation and Infrastructure Nunavut.
“The [petroleum products division] is closely monitoring inventory, and while we do not currently anticipate the need to airlift fuel, the option is available if required,” Belanger said.
The hamlet had approximately 80,000 litres of diesel fuel in its tanks as of Sept. 18, he said, an amount that should be “sufficient until resupply.”
The department did not explain why the Igloolik’s fuel shipment was delayed.
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