The Kuskokwim and Johnson rivers are frozen and Nunapitchuk has not received its gasoline deliveries prior to the winter season began. The village did receive deliveries of stove oil and diesel.
On November. 2nd Two Vitus Energy barges had been on their way along to the Johnson River on the way to Nunapitchuk when one of them got stuck due to the north wind as well as ice formation and an absence of tide. This was the barge that had gasoline. The barge has been stranded in the water for the duration of winter.
Northstar Gas CEO John Wagner informed KYUK earlier that the late order placed the village at the bottom of the list of Vitus Energy’s autumn fuel deliveries.
The village must sit and wait until the ice road’s formation so that it can get its fuel. If the weather is favorable, Vitus plans to use trucks or another method to fulfill the order that was for 70,000 gallons of gasoline.
As of right now, Nunapitchuk has 13,000 gallons of gasoline. Wassillie Brink, the owner of the gas station, stated that he’s already begun restricting his fuel consumption. He predicted that others would follow suit when they discover that there’s no gas to last through winter. Residents can also visit nearby villages to purchase gas. The closest village to Nunapitchuk, Kasigluk, is the only village that has an order pending at Vitus but it’s really an order to top off the tank.
