Shell acknowledges gas ruined spark plugs

SARA MINOGUE

Two independent consultants have confirmed what many Nunavummiut already knew – the gas supplied from Shell Canada’s Edmonton plant last year was “significantly different” from gas supplied from their Montreal refinery.

Two consultants visited 15 communities where they heard from 179 people who had damage to snowmobiles, ATVs, outboard motors and cars or trucks.

“Those respondents that reported spark plug fouling and engine performance issues have valid concerns that are fuel related,” wrote the two consultants from Intertek Caleb Brett in their report.

Shell Canada agreed to fix the chemical makeup of the gas for this year’s fuel re-supply. The oil company also proposed a fuel voucher program for hunters who were affected by last year’s gas.

That response was not good enough for Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley, who pressed Peter Kilabuk, minister responsible for the fuel supply, in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

“We realize that engine parts are expensive,” Kilabuk said. “At this time as the Government of Nunavut we are negotiating with Shell and we are looking at how best to resolve this problem, and what kind of compensation would be provided.”

Later in the debate, Kilabuk said that he was impressed with Shell’s response so far, “…but I do believe more should be done by this company.”

Hunters in several Baffin and Kivalliq communities reported problems with the gasoline last year, which fouled snowmobile spark plugs faster than usual, and may have even caused damage to pistons and crank shafts, though the consultants were unable to confirm this without knowing the state of the snowmobiles before the gas was used.

Testing proved that the gas met all national standards, as well as the more stringent Nunavut standards, but the complaints kept coming. Shell later alleviated the problem by mixing an additive, known as MMT, to the gasoline supply in the affected communities.