America’s emergency oil stockpile is rapidly approaching territory the country has not seen in more than four decades — and Washington is running out of easy options.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to approximately 284.6 million barrels in mid-September, according to Department of Energy data reported by Reuters. That is the smallest amount of crude stored in the reserve since 1982.
The decline comes as the United States continues fulfilling its commitment to release 172 million barrels following the massive international energy disruption triggered by the war with Iran.
