Washington, DC - On June 23, 2011, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced that its 28 member countries would release 60 million barrels of crude oil and refined products into the global market. As part of that action, the President directed the Department of Energy to auction 30.237 million barrels of light, sweet crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Yesterday, bids were received.
Industry interest in the Department of Energy’s sale of Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) oil was very high. Over 90 offers to purchase oil were received yesterday and the Department’s offering of 30.2 million barrels of light, sweet crude oil was substantially oversubscribed. The Department expects all contract awards to be completed by July 11, 2011, at which time details about purchasers and sales prices will be released.
The Department has been in close consultation with key oil exporters to ensure the IEA action and the producer response to the current oil supply disruptions are mutually reinforcing.
<p>DOE Office of Public Affairs</p><p>(202) 586-4940</p>