(Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday reassured U.S. motorists that fuel supplies should start returning to normal this weekend, even as more filling stations ran out of gasoline across the Southeast nearly a week after a cyber attack on the nation\u2019s top fuel pipeline.<\/p>\n
Colonial Pipeline said late Thursday it had restarted its entire pipeline system and had begun deliveries in all of its markets. It will take several days for shipments to return to normal along its 5,500 mile (8,850 km) route, it said.<\/p>\n
Some markets \u201cmay experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions,\u201d Colonial Pipeline said in a statement, echoing Biden who said earlier there could be \u201chiccups.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pipeline, which carries 100 million gallons per day of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, resumed computer-controlled pumping late Wednesday after adding safety measures.<\/p>\n
Gasoline shortages worsened from Virginia to Florida as depots and distribution centers awaited supply. The shutdown also forced two refineries to curb output and spurred airlines to reroute flights to refuel at airports outside the impacted area. Motorists\u2019 tempers frayed as panic buying led stations to run dry even where supplies were available.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelief is coming,\u201d added Jeanette McGee, a spokeswoman for motor travel group AAA.<\/p>\n
Colonial said in a notice to its shippers that it is approximately 5-1\/2 days behind current scheduled times. \u201cCertain line segments were operated manually during the downtime and may be ahead of the 5-1\/2-day estimated delay,\u201d the notice said.<\/p>\n
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