Trump Wants to Sell 15 Million Barrels From US Oil Reserve

Trump Wants to Sell 15 Million Barrels From US Oil Reserve
The proposed drawdown would be in addition to about 260 million barrels of congressionally mandated sales through fiscal year 2027.

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump has proposed selling 15 million barrels of oil from the U.S. emergency stockpile as part of his fiscal 2021 budget plan.

The proposal, which requires approval from Congress, would use the proceeds of the sale to fund certain Energy Department activities, including the environmental remediation of an oil field in Elk Hills, California, that was once owned by the government.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the largest government stockpile in the world, was set up after the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s and has been tapped in response to Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Libyan supply disruptions in 2011.

The proposed drawdown would be in addition to about 260 million barrels of congressionally mandated sales through fiscal year 2027 intended to raise money for government programs.

Trump in 2017 called for selling off half the stockpile -- which currently totals 635 million barrels -- to help cut the budget deficit.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Stephen Cunningham in Washington at scunningha10@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story:
David Marino at dmarino4@bloomberg.net
Catherine Traywick, Carlos Caminada



WHAT DO YOU THINK?


Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Merick  |  February 13, 2020
I think the lack of supply will drive up the price of oil and cause a very positive effect for the short term economy outlook
David Engbrock  |  February 11, 2020
What else could you expect. Why sell at $100 / bbl when you can hide your mistakes and sell at $45 /bbl.
What happened to buy low, sell high!!!  |  February 11, 2020
Oil is approaching $40/bbl. Not a good time to sell.