Igloolik close to running out of fuel

Igloolik is close to running out of fuel after an annual delivery didn’t arrive on time.

John Ivey, the hamlet’s senior administrative officer, said the Government of Nunavut told him the shipment that was expected to arrive Sept. 17 will now come on Sept. 26.

“It’s delayed for some reason,” he said in an interview.

Igloolik relies on diesel fuel for generating electricity to heat homes and for the trucks that provide drinking water and sewage services.

He said the hamlet is encouraging residents to conserve water and to limit electricity use.

“We got some assurance from the GN that they won’t let the town run out of fuel,” he said. “If it gets to the point where it’s getting pretty close, there could possibly be an airlift of fuel brought in, but we’re not at that stage.”

The hamlet has also contacted Nunavut’s emergency measures organization and local rangers, he said, who are prepared to help out if the shipment doesn’t arrive in time.

He said technicians with the GN’s petroleum products division are in the community monitoring the situation and providing guidance. 

 “We’re pretty confident that they’re doing a good job keeping an eye on things,” Ivey said.

While the situation is serious, he said people don’t need to panic. 

“Unnecessary chatter on Facebook doesn’t really help the situation,” he said.

The GN’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure could not be reached for comment before publication.