Hormuz depletion impacts US oil reserves
The United States is facing a significant decline in its strategic oil reserve, which is primarily stored in underground salt caverns, with its stockpiles falling below 300 million barrels— the lowest level since 1983. This decrease results from ongoing drawdowns to compensate for energy supply disruptions, particularly due to the closure of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, during which 172 million barrels have been released from the reserve. The depletion of stocks, which have an overall capacity of about 727 million barrels, raises concerns about potential technical impacts on storage facilities, such as weak pumps and the possible compromising of cavern safety. These issues could limit Washington’s ability to respond to future energy crises. The U.S. Department of Energy affirms that these withdrawal operations are conducted safely, but experts warn that continued depletion may expose the facilities to technical risks and restrict the country's capacity to utilize its reserves effectively in emergencies.
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