Esso stations are running short of gasoline this week after accidents at both of Imperial Oil's refineries in Ontario.
The shortages, which yesterday affected 75 of the company's 400 gas stations in the province, are being rotated to spread the pain. A number of gas bars have also been closed outright by Canadian Tire, which relies on Imperial Oil for its supply.
A spokesman for Imperial Oil pleaded yesterday with the public not to engage in hoarding.
"If people go crazy into panic buying, it could look very ugly by the end of the week. . . they will put a lot of stress into an already overstressed situation," said Robert Theberge. "We have to be very responsible."
Imperial Oil is the largest petroleum supplier to the Ontario market, with refineries near Hamilton and in the Sarnia area.
There was an explosion and fire in December at the company's refinery in Sarnia, which provides gasoline to Imperial's own stations, as well as Canadian Tire stations and a number of independent companies.
And last week, a fire at the company's Nanticoke refinery slashed its gasoline production. The facility southwest of Hamilton can now produce only half its normal 40,000 litres a day.
The day after the fire, which was put out after two hours and caused no injuries, a company spokesman said the refinery would not take in new crude oil to process until it had assessed the full extent of the damage.
The Nanticoke blaze was "the straw that broke the camel's back," Mr. Theberge said.
"There are some service stations that will, from time to time, be without product for a few hours in the next 10 days."
The company's problems have been made worse by an ongoing strike at CN Rail, which has hampered the company's ability to transport gasoline.
Imperial is working to ensure that the shortages will rotate across the province.
"We're not in a desperate mode," Mr. Theberge said, noting that various companies operate about 2,000 gas stations across Ontario.
Calls to a half-dozen Esso stations scattered across Northern Ontario indicated that the shortages were the exception rather than the norm yesterday.
The shortages have forced Canadian Tire to close 10 gas bars, spokeswoman Lisa Gibson said. "We're taking it hour by hour."
Mr. Theberge said Imperial's competitors in the industry have come forward to say they can help meet consumer demand.
An official with Suncor Energy Inc. said its Sunoco gas stations were operating normally but wholesale operations are busy.
"There is a lot of activity at our terminals," said Patricia Anderson, director of government relations and communications for Suncor.
A spokesman for Shell also noted the overall market for gasoline is tight right now, with the CN rail strike and the cold weather.