After a ransomware attack struck Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline and caused the shutdown of a vital U.S. pipeline, Andy Milton, Senior Vice President of Supply with Mansfield Oil Company, said Georgians do not have much to worry about.
The Colonial Pipeline, built in the 1970s, is the largest pipeline that supplies fuel to a number of states, including Georgia. Another pipeline, the Plantation pipeline that was built in the 1940s, will continue supplying fuel to the east coast but cannot fully make up the difference.
Milton said shortages have already started but he does not think it will take too long for the pipeline to get back up and running.
"I would expect some outages," Milton said. "But as long as the pipeline gets up this week, which I do fully expect, I don't think we're going to see any massive runouts across the state."
However, if the pipeline does not resume as Colonial said it will, Milton said it could cause some tightness.
"Luckily, people aren't driving as much. People are hopefully working from home. I would encourage people to be working from home a little bit more. That's always a great way to keep fuel supply in the system," Milton said. "I think as long as things keep going as planned, we're going to be okay."
Milton said he expects gas prices to rise but he encourages people to fill up their tanks as they normally would and not worry about the possibility of running out of fuel.
