Colonial Pipeline restarts operations following ransomware attack

A Colonial Pipeline fuel holding tank.
(Image credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The Colonial Pipeline restarted operations on Wednesday evening, but the company stressed that it will take "several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal."

The pipeline, which runs from Texas to New Jersey and transports 45 percent of the East Coast's fuel supply, was shut down on Friday after Colonial Pipeline was the target of a ransomware attack. In states along the pipeline's route, people have been panic buying gas, and hundreds of gas stations have reported running out of fuel.

On Tuesday, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm asked the public to only get gas if they truly need it. "Much as there was no cause for, say, hoarding toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic, there should be no cause for hoarding gasoline," Granholm said.

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