Alberta drivers face another jump at the pump after Illinois refinery outage
This latest price jump isn't the first this year, as the ongoing war in Iran and blockage of the Strait of Hormuz are causing costs to soar.
Alberta motorists are bracing for another increase at the pump, following a disturbance at an Illinois refinery. While global events have kept fuel costs high this summer, the latest spike is believed to be triggered by a power outage at the Exxon Mobil Joliet refinery. Prices surged by up to $0.30 per litre in certain areas, with Edmonton witnessing prices as high as $1.81 per litre and Calgary at $1.84.
This isn't the first jump this year, as the war in Iran and blockage of the Strait of Hormuz have been contributing factors. Gas prices have fluctuated from $1.80 in the spring to $1.50 in July. Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, attributed the recent increase to the refinery outage, estimating it to amount to approximately $0.18 for gasoline and $0.24 to $0.25 for diesel.
The refinery's power was lost on Sunday and as of Tuesday afternoon had not been restored. While the situation may improve as the plant comes back online, McTeague emphasized that diesel prices, which are already double their levels from last year, are a more pressing concern. He warned that another spike in gas prices could occur in the near future, though the timeline remains uncertain.
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