Destruction of oil refineries in Texas due to Harvey has caused huge mount in gas prices across the nation and Virginia. Prices climbed on an average of 5 cents across the country, a closure of a part of a key pipeline on Thursday created the potential to drive prices higher.

The American Automobile Association said on Thursday morning that the average price per gallon of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline was $2.24 in Virginia, with Richmond averaging $2.22, Norfolk $2.23, Charlottesville $2.23 and Roanoke $2.25. According to AAA, Average gas prices in Virginia are up 11 cents since Friday.

And those numbers could change with Colonial Pipeline announcing that it would shut down part of the pipeline system running from the Houston area through Virginia to Linden, it provides nearly 40 percent of south’s gasoline and it includes 5500 miles of pipe.

AAA says that about 19 percent of the Gulf Coast’s refining capacity is offline, representing around 3 Million barrels a day of gasoline production. The average of gasoline prices Thursday was $2.45 per gallon and it would rise to $2.50 per gallon if refineries are down “ for an extended period of time”.

Martha Meade, a local AAA spokeswoman, said that price spike comes as an estimated 1 million Virginians get ready to hit the road for Labor Day Weekend.

“Virginia is among a number of states expected to see the largest price increases in the nation, as the Gulf Coast is the primary provider of gasoline for our region”, she said.

By A.s