N1 closes Reykjahlíð’s only petrol station

N1 closed its petrol station in Reykjahlíð, a settlement by Lake Mývatn, on Tuesday, leaving its roughly 270 residents without a local place to buy fuel, mbl.is reported.

The nearest station is run by Orkan at Skútustaðir, about 15 kilometres away by road. The N1 station was self-service; the company did not operate a staffed station in the settlement.

N1 managing director Magnús Hafliðason said the land lease was due to expire at the end of the year, meaning the company could not continue operating at the current location, which is within a water protection area.

N1 is discussing possible locations for a new station in Reykjahlíð with landowners. Hafliðason said the company hoped to have a station operating somewhere in the area by next summer. Work to clear the site is under way and is expected to continue for the next few weeks.