Colonial Pipeline halts operations after cyberattack; largest refined products pipeline in US
Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline in the US, transporting more than 100 million gallons of fuel daily to meet the energy needs of consumers from Houston, Texas to the New York Harbor. On 7 May, the Colonial Pipeline Company learned it was the victim of a cyberattack involving ransomware. In response, the company took certain systems offline to contain the threat; this has temporarily halted all pipeline operations.
Colonial Pipeline is 5500 miles in length, and links refineries on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern US. The pipeline supplies nearly half of the US East Coast’s fuel supply; a prolonged outage could spike gasoline prices just as the summer driving season is approaching.
Cyber-Attack Shuts Down Biggest Gasoline Pipeline in US–Colonial Pipeline
NEW YORK Top U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline has shut its entire network, the source of nearly half of the U.S. East Coast’s fuel supply, after a cyber attack that the company said was caused by ransomware.
The shutdown has raised fears of a price spike at the gas pumps ahead of peak demand summer driving season if it persists, and has drawn attention to how critical U.S. energy infrastructure is vulnerable to hackers.
Colonial transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States.
The company shut down systems to contain the threat after learning of the attack on Friday, Colonial said in the statement. That action has temporarily halted operations and affected some of its IT systems, the company said.