U.S. Capital Running Out of Gas, Even as Colonial Pipeline Recovers

Date: 15 May 2021 - 21:13

News ID: ۹۰۲۲۴

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington was running out of gasoline, even as the country’s largest fuel pipeline network ramped up deliveries following a cyberattack and U.S. officials assured motorists that supplies would return to normal soon.
The six-day Colonial Pipeline shutdown was the most disruptive cyberattack on record. Widespread panic buying continued two days after the pipeline network restarted, leaving filling stations across the U.S. Southeast out of gas.
With more Americans taking road trips as pandemic restrictions ease, pump prices are at their highest in years. The average national gasoline price has climbed to almost $3.04, the most expensive since October 2014, the American Automobile Association said.
As politicians discussed legislation to improve cyber defenses, more gasoline stations shut down in the capital city of the world’s largest oil-consuming nation.
On Friday gas station outages in Washington climbed to 88% from 79% the day before, tracking firm GasBuddy said. President Joe Biden assured motorists supplies should start returning to normal by this weekend.
Colonial Pipeline announced late Thursday it had restarted its entire pipeline system linking refineries on the Gulf Coast to markets along the eastern seaboard.