To the editor,
First of all, from conversations with fuel truck drivers and related research, I have found out that almost all fuel for northern B.C. comes from the refinery in Prince George, who gets their crude supply from Alberta, by pipeline.
The difference for the brands of fuel is just different additives. In 2008 we had crude prices of up to $180 barrel and gas prices or just under $2 litre.
But now we had crude prices reaching up to $120 barrel and gas prices up to $2.40 litre.
Current crude prices have been between $80 to $90 barrel, and gas prices just under $2 a litre.
But the real mystery is the apparent current disconnect of prices in different towns. For example in the Hazeltons gas prices have been 10 to 20 cents litre lower than Terrace or Smithers. It’s the same in Williams Lake which is even lower than Prince George by 10 cents a litre or more.
Much of those price variations did not exist until about one year ago, when prices would be lower the closer you came to Prince George.
Now the real mystery is how come it is blamed on supply issues, are there supply issues with Canadian production or is it simply price gouging. Lets look at the record profits posted by the oil and gas companies this year and the related record inflation!
So, where is the mystery, or is it simply greed?
Martin Holzbauer,
Thornhill, BC
Do you have a comment about this story? email:
michael.willcock@terracestandard.com