US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Hit 40-Year Low Following Iran War

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: According to the latest data, these reserves, which once exceeded 700 million barrels, are now on the verge of falling below critical limits, and experts are warning about the vulnerability of storage infrastructure and its consequences for energy security.

 

According to news sources, the US strategic petroleum reserves, which are stored in sixty salt caverns deep in the earth in Texas and Louisiana, have been emptying at an unprecedented rate in recent months.

 

Some reports indicate daily withdrawals of more than one million barrels. According to some statistics, current reserves have decreased to about 307 million barrels. Experts warn that continuing this trend will leave the salt reservoirs at risk of permanent damage, requiring the government to seek congressional approval or emergency presidential authorization to withdraw more.

 

As reserves dwindle, the cost of the war has weighed on American consumers. The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States has crossed the $4 mark, reaching between $4.07 and $4.56. The price increase, which has pushed some states to the $7 mark, has come as consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level since 1952.

 

Analysts believe that the continuation of this situation and the lack of a clear outlook for the end of the war will not only threaten the American economy, but will also face an unprecedented shock to global oil markets, and according to some estimates, the government’s usable reserves will be sufficient to cover the oil supply deficit for a maximum of another 180 days.