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Lithium Faces Challenge From Sodium Batteries

Lithium Faces Challenge From Sodium Batteries

Lithium-ion has been the dominant…

Biden Administration Looks To Add 12 Million Barrels To The SPR This Year

The federal government plans to buy some 12 million barrels as part of efforts to refill the strategic petroleum reserve after drawing down more than 200 million barrels from it last year.

This is according to an unnamed source that spoke to Reuters and that also suggested total purchases this year could exceed 12 million barrels.

Earlier this month, the Department of Energy announced it had bought 3 million barrels of crude for the strategic petroleum reserve and planned to buy another 3 million.

"These 3 million barrels are being purchased for an average price of about $73 per barrel, lower than the average of about $95 per barrel that SPR crude was sold for in 2022, securing a good deal for taxpayers," the Department of Energy said.

In October of last year, the administration announced that it would repurchase crude oil for the reserve when prices were at or below about $67-$72 per barrel.

The move would be a dual-purpose one in that not only would it replenish the nation’s depleted reserves, but it would boost demand when prices were low instead of sending them into orbit at a time of regular prices.

Currently, the strategic petroleum reserve is at the lowest level since 1983, at 372 million barrels of crude, which has prompted some observers to warn about a possible compromise in the country’s energy security.

The first 3 million barrels should be delivered to the SPR in August and another 3 million—yet to be contracted—should be delivered a month later. This leaves three months for the Department of Energy to source and purchase another 6 million barrels at a price it can afford.

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According to a spokesman, the DoE "will continue to seek opportunities for additional repurchases as market conditions and the constraints of SPR operations allow."

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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  • Mamdouh Salameh on June 14 2023 said:
    At a purchase rate of 12.0 million barrels a year, it will take the US Department of Energy (DoE) 18 years to return 216 million barrels that the Biden administration released from the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in 2021 and 2022 at a time of escalating tensions with both China and Russia.

    The balance sheet of releasing SPR crude is negative and risky. While the US will make money out of the SPR release, the release itself hardly impacted oil prices and has in no small measure weakened US geopolitical position. Moreover it will take years to refill the SPR.

    Dr Mamdouh G Salameh
    International Oil Economist
    Global Energy Expert

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