Colonial Pipeline says it has restored full service

The Colonial Pipeline, the target of a ransomware attack last week, has resumed full operations, the company announced Thursday afternoon.

“We can now report that we have restarted our entire pipeline system and that product delivery has commenced to all markets we serve,” the company said in a statement.

The company said it anticipates “several days” before supply chains return to normal after the pipeline shutdown prompted gas shortages and panic buying.

“Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during this start-up period,” the statement said. “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 announcement came hours after Colonial said it had restored service to the vast majority of markets and expected full restoration by end of the day. 

Earlier Thursday afternoon, President Biden advised against panic buying or hoarding as the supply chain gets restored.

“I know seeing lines at the pumps or gas stations with no gas can be extremely stressful, but this is a temporary situation. Do not get more gas than you need in the next few days,” Biden said. “We expect the situation to begin to improve by the weekend and into early next week and gasoline supply is coming back online. Panic buying will only slow the process.”

Late Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed the White House had waived the Jones Act to allow foreign tankers to deliver fuel to the affected area along the East Coast.

“This waiver will help provide for the transport of oil products between the Gulf Coast and East Coast ports to ease oil supply constraints as a result of the interruptions in the operations of the Colonial Pipeline,” Mayorkas said Wednesday night. “The Departments of Transportation, Energy, and Defense were consulted in order to assess the justification for the waiver request and ensure the approval of the waiver is in the interest of national defense.”