The high price of diesel fuel could impact more than just drivers. On Thursday, some stations in Waterloo Region were selling diesel for around $2.50 per litre. There may be some temporary relief on the way, but it could be short-lived. “That drop of seven cents a litre tomorrow, it’s going to be erased with a seven cent increase come Saturday,” Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy said. Overall, the price of diesel has almost doubled since last year. “Diesel was selling in the $1.30 range, just a little below gasoline, that is now pushing into the $2.60 range,” McTeague said. The fuel is used in everything from passenger vehicles, to farming, construction, mining and even the forestry industry. “It’s also used for jets,” McTeague explained. “Kerosene, which is what’s called part of the distillate family – jets run on it.” McTeague said drivers out west are paying even more due to the shutdown of ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery in Illinois. The facility has been dealing with an unexpected power failure since Sept. 13. “It’s not coming back online anytime soon. That’s leaving very, very short critical supplies of gasoline and diesel.” If a refinery that serves Ontario were to meet a similar fate, McTeague believes the cost of diesel could rise above $3 per litre.
