Canadians can expect to pay more at the pump as Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine puts even greater pressure on an already surging oil price environment.
Roger McKnight, chief petroleum analyst at En-Pro International Inc. expects gas prices across the countryto rise approximately five cents per litre this weekend.
鈥淚f you are only filling up once a week or that sort of thing, get anything in your tank that you can before Saturday,鈥� McKnight said on Thursday. 鈥淏ut if you鈥檙e a daily filler, there鈥檚 really not much you can do.鈥�
The high demand for oil combined with a shortage of supply has been pushing oil prices, and consequently, gas prices up for weeks.
The benchmark West Texas Intermediate price sat at US$92 per barrel Thursday afternoon after briefly trading above US$100per barrel earlier in the day. Brent crude fell toUS$99 a barrel, after topping US$105 a barrel for the first time since 2014 on Thursday morning.
Even if U.S. President Joe Biden attempts to intervene to calm the pressure on oil prices, the situation could still worsen, according to McKnight.
鈥淥PEC+ is really Saudi Arabia and Russia together and if President Biden puts pressure on Saudi Arabia to get more crude into the system to lower prices, that鈥檚 just going to upset Russia even further and they may even shut down supply completely,鈥� McKnight said.
The ability for OPEC+ to respond in any meaningful way is limited anyway because of the oil cartel鈥檚 struggle to keep up with its committed production increases, Rory Johnston, founder of energy price newsletter Commodity Context, pointed out.
There is still much uncertainty around how tensions between Russia and Ukraine will play out and if there will ultimately be a loss of oil supply. If the crisis in Eastern Europe does worsen, Johnston said the current deficit in the oil market could double, sending prices through the roof.
鈥淚 think you could absolutely see prices add $20, $30, $40 dollars a barrel,鈥� he said.
Meanwhile, Canada on Thursday announced more sanctions on Russia, including the halting of all export permits, as well as financial penalties targeting banks, lawmakers and elites, despite Russia promising to retaliate against those who interfere with its operations in Ukraine.
鈥擜dena Ali, The Canadian Press
