Non-essential vehicles on Vancouver Island and other areas of southern B.C. are limited to 30 litre fill ups for the rest of the month in a bid to conserve supplies of fuel. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

fill up

Fuel sales being limited on Vancouver Island due to needed pipeline repairs

Nov 19, 2021 | 3:50 PM

NANAIMO — The fallout from the recent ‘atmospheric river’ which hit B.C. earlier this week continues.

The province announced on Friday, Nov. 19, a pipeline issue caused by the recent flooding will affect Vancouver Island’s ability to receive fuel shipments for at least a week.

“Non-essential vehicles including the general public will still have access to gas available through retail gas stations, but people in southwestern British Columbia, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast will be limited to 30 litres per visit,” Mike Farnworth, public safety minister, said Friday afternoon.

Emergency and essential vehicles will have an unrestricted supply of fuel.

The restrictions will be in place until at least Dec. 1.

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The limit on 30 litres per visit will be on the honour system according to Farnworth, who said most British Columbians will “do the right thing.”

Farnworth said supply around the province should last.

“Over the next 10 to 11 days, if we follow the orders in place today, we will be fine.”

This order does not impact natural gas or heating oil used to heat homes.

Some Nanaimo gas stations are low on fuel, including the Dover Rd. Petro Can station which had signs posted on the pumps Friday afternoon. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Some stations in Nanaimo have already begun to run low. The Petro Canada station on Dover Rd. had signs posted on their pumps Friday afternoon telling customers regular and mid-grade supply was out.

One employee told NanaimoNewsNOW the company has reserves on Vancouver Island and the outage would be short.

Farnworth also announced a second order prohibiting non-essential travel along severely effected highways started today, including the hardest hit sections of Hwy. 99, 3, and 7.

All are on the Lower Mainland and Interior and are designed to reconnect Vancouver with the rest of mainland B.C.

There are exceptions to these travel restrictions.

“Moving essential supplies like food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, transporting livestock and agriculture supplies. As roads are repaired and the backlog of essential travel clears, restrictions on essential travel can and will be eased.”

Vancouver Island avoided a brunt of the flooding impacts, however the Malahat Hwy. washed out on Monday, forcing a closure.

On Thursday, Nov. 18, a sinkhole opened on Hwy. 19 which limited access between Nanaimo and Parksville.

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