BREAKING: Gas pipeline back in action
In a statement, the operator of the Colonial Pipeline says it restarted operations at 5 p.m. today
Good afternoon! Today is Wednesday, May 12, 2021, and we’re coming to you with HOT BREAKING NEWS.
Pipeline restarts, promising an end to the hunt for gas
Charlotte drivers welcome the arrival of a fuel truck at a convenience store on Providence Road in south Charlotte on Wednesday.
by Tony Mecia
The Colonial Pipeline, whose shutdown has led to widespread gas shortages in Charlotte and the Southeast, has restarted, the company that runs it said this evening.
“Colonial Pipeline initiated the restart of pipeline operations today at approximately 5 p.m. ET,” the statement read. It continued:
Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. 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.
What it means: In other words, it sounds as though a lot of gas stations around town will continue to be empty for the next several days. However, resumption of service could lead drivers to stop topping off their tanks and refueling. That could ease some of the crunch.
The pipeline had been offline since Friday, following a cyberattack.
As many as 71% of Charlotte gas stations were out of gas at one point on Wednesday, according to the gas tracking app GasBuddy.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory