Colonial Pipeline announces that it has begun the restart of pipeline operations

Areas of the U.S. have faced fuel shortages since the pipeline system was targeted by hackers.
Fuel holding tanks at Colonial Pipeline Linden Junction Tank Farm on May 10, 2021
By Alex Nitzberg

Colonial Pipeline has announced that it began the restart of pipeline operations around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

"Following this restart, it will 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 said.

Parts of the U.S. have an insufficient fuel supply in the wake of the cyberattack that occurred last week.

The Associated Press said that there is not a gas shortage, but a distribution issue moving the commodity from Gulf Coast refineries to the areas in need of fuel. The outlet also said that panic-purchasing is a factor.