The Colonial Pipeline has restarted operations after the cyber attack which hit its systems almost a week ago, causing a panic-buying of gas in many southeastern states.
The Colonial Pipeline, the largest pipeline system for refined oil products in the US, announced it restarted operations at about 5 p.m. ET, but warned that it would take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal.
Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during the start-up period. Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal,
…the company explained.
Colonial Pipeline, transporting approximately 45% of all fuel consumed on the East Coast, announced Saturday it would temporarily halt all pipeline operations, after becoming victim of a cyber attack involving ransomware.
Tonight’s announcement means there’s an end in sight for the supply disruptions that have affected States across the Southeast. As Colonial Pipeline works to safely and fully resume operations over the next few days, we will stay in close contact with the company and will continue to offer any assistance needed—as we have done since the outset of this shutdown on Friday,
…a White House statement of Wednesday reads.
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Energy market analysts have already identified shortages and a demand surge in gas stations in Southeast US. Gas prices nationally crossed $3 a gallon on Wednesday as many in the Southeast lined up for hours to fill their tanks. It is still unclear exactly when those shortages will be relieved.
On late Wednesday, the US Secretary of Homeland Security announced that he is issuing a temporary and targeted Jones Act waiver to an individual company, in order to enable the transport of additional gas and jet fuel between the Gulf Coast and East Coast ports to ease supply constraints.
In the wake of the incident, President Biden announced the signing of an executive order to chart a new course to improve cyber security in the US.
