Gas shortage strikes Windsor

A gas shortage is underway in Windsor, a leading expert says.

Sources in the fuel industry told CBC a shortage in the Windsor region is expected to last for two weeks.

Gas expert Dan McTeague, a former Liberal MP who now runs the website Tomorrowsgaspricetoday.com, said the shortage is due a problem at a Suncor refinery in Sarnia.

He said all of southwestern Ontario is looking at a gas shortage.

McTeague said wholesalers were told last week to start rationing gas deliveries but that many didn't get the notice of allocation or didn't hear about it.

"As a result, with the heavier than usual demand for gasoline on the long weekend, many gas stations, particular PetroCan stations, which are owned by Suncor, went dry," McTeague said.

He warned more gas stations will run out of gas.

McTeague said refineries in Ohio are also down due to repairs and upgrades.

"We're still dealing with a very tight market," McTeague said.

McTeague said stations with gas still in their tanks won't likely raise prices at the pumps as competitors go dry.

"I don't see oil companies and refineries profiteering where there's a circumstance of a shortage," McTeague said. "I don't think it's time to panic."

Suncor, which owns Petro-Canada stations, said in an email to CBC there are problems in the supply chain.

"I can confirm that due to a number of factors there is a supply shortage in Ontario. We are currently in the process of replenishing stations," Suncor spokeswoman Nicole Fisher said. "We apologize for the inconvenience to our customers and are working hard to minimize the impact."

The Petro-Canada station at 50 Tecumseh Rd. W. had been without gas for two days. An employee there would only say they had no idea why gas wasn't being delivered.

However, at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday a fuelling truck finally arrived.