Biden Assurances on Smoothing Fuel Supply Over the Week

Fuel supply will begin to return to normal this weekend, the US President assured Joe Biden, even though gasoline is running low at more and more gas stations in the southeastern United States almost a week after the cyber attack on the largest fuel pipeline in the United States.

The company Colonial Pipeline announced late yesterday, Thursday, that it restarted its entire pipeline system and distributed fuel to all the markets it serves. The company estimated that it will take several days for the fuel supply chain to return to normal operation for the total length of 8,850 kilometers of the pipeline, as pointed out by AMPE.

Some markets “may face or continue to experience interruptions in their service from time to time,” the company said in a statement. Colonial Pipeline, sharing the assessment of President Biden, who had earlier stated that there may be “minor problems”.

The pipeline, which carries more than 378 million liters (100 million gallons) of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel daily, resumed its computer-based pumping operation late Wednesday after security measures were tightened.

Gasoline shortages worsened from Virginia to Florida, as did supply points and distribution centers. they were waiting for the start of their refueling.

The shutdown of the pipeline has led two refineries to cut production, forcing airlines to redirect their aircraft to refuel at out-of-fuel areas.

Annoyance was caused by motorists, as the panic that prevailed over the supply of fuel, depleted the reserves of the supply stations, resulting in shortages.

“Relief is coming,” said Janet McGee, a spokeswoman for the American Motorists Association (AAA).

The resumption of the pipeline was expected to restore fuel supply to the troubled areas until yesterday, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Yesterday, about 70% of North Carolina gas stations run out of fuel, while about 50% of stations in Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia had shortages, according to Fuel Tracking Data (GasBuddy).

The average price of gasoline nationwide has risen more than three dollars per gallon (3,785 liters), recording the largest increase since October 2014, according to the American Motorists Association.

Gasoline prices in some areas rose as much as 11 cents in one day.

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