High prices at the pump battle Susanville

<a href=www.lassennews.com>Where is Lassen County? Posted on Monday, March 17 @ 10:15:10 PST By Janine Fairbank Staff Writer

In Susanville, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was about $2.12 as of Friday, March 14, and some say the price could even go higher. Bill Harkness, plant manager for Staub Energy in Susanville said many factors caused the recent rise which affect a commodities market such as the oil industry.

Harkness, who has been in the petroleum business for 17 years, three with Staub, said most crude oil is bought from the MidEast, Mexico and Venezuela. Because of the long-lasting strike halting drilling operations in Venezuela, which supplies 15 percent of the world's oil, he said there is definitely a shortage of crude oil, which raises the price.

Crude oil is used to make products such as gasoline, heating oil, motor oil and propane, which is in high demand right now, said Harkness.