The largest pipeline system for refined oil products in the US, the Colonial Pipeline, reportedly said on May 12 it initiated the restart of operations after having to shut down following a cyberattack last week which caused gas price hikes as motorists feared fuel shortages.
The Colonial Pipeline said it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal and pledged to move as much gasoline, diesel and jet fuel as is safely possible.
“Following this restart it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal,” the Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline Co said in a statement. “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 added.
Colonial Pipeline had to shut it down on May 8 following a cyberattack which later the FBI confirmed that the Darkside ransomware was responsible for the compromise of the Colonial Pipeline networks. “We continue to work with the company and our government partners on the investigation,” the FBI said in a statement.
The Colonial Pipeline – an important source of refined oil products in the US – said it has initiated the restart of pipeline operations as of 5 p.m. ET. The pipeline is 5,500 miles long and can carry 3 million barrels of fuel per day between Texas and New York. The restart follows earlier comments by US President Joe Biden that his Administration was in “very very close” contact with Colonial and that he expected some “good news”.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post is reporting Colonial will be able rebuilt and restore its systems without having to resort to paying the ransomware through the crypto currency that Darkside is demanding.
