據彭博新聞社2023年6月14日報道，據兩位知情人士透露，由于原油價格下跌，美國計劃今年購買大約1200萬桶原油，以補充其耗盡的應急儲備。

據知情人士透露，這一數字包括已經計劃在8月份交付的300萬桶原油，以及政府6月9日發布的額外300萬桶原油招標。

美國能源部的一位發言人表示，他們將繼續“在市場條件和戰略石油儲備操作限制允許的情況下，尋求更多回購的機會”。

白宮沒有立即置評。

美國超過7億桶的戰略石油儲備在去年爆發軍事沖突后減少了1.8億桶，目前美國戰略石油儲備處于40年來的最低水平。

石油交易商一直在密切關注美國政府開始補充應急儲備的情況，這是因為美國政府的采購必然會使市場收緊。由于歐佩克+減產，美國能源部尋求的含硫原油等級需求量很大。

對美國國內原油產量的進一步拉動可能會推高油價，可能會在夏季駕駛季節推高汽油價格，并可能阻止政府增加戰略石油儲備。

總部位于華盛頓的咨詢公司ClearView Energy Partners周五在給客戶的報告中寫道：“美國能源部似乎希望通過一系列的小幅度補充儲備，而不是大規模補充儲備，這可能是為了盡量減少夏季駕駛季節(以及選舉季)對原油價格的上行壓力。”

政府去年秋天表示，目標是在油價處于或低于每桶67～72美元時補充戰略石油儲備。WTI期貨周二上漲3.4%，收于每桶69.42美元，該原油價格今年以來下跌了近14%。

李峻 編譯自 彭博新聞社

原文如下：

U.S. to purchase 12 MMbbl of oil for depleted emergency reserve in 2023

The U.S. plans to purchase about 12 MMbbl of oil this year as it begins to refill its depleted emergency reserve amid falling crude prices, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The figure includes 3 MMbbl already scheduled for delivery in August and an additional 3 MMbbl from a solicitation the Administration issued on Friday, according to the people.

An Energy Department spokesperson said they will continue to “seek opportunities for additional repurchases as market conditions and the constraints of SPR operations allow.”

The White House didn’t immediately comment.

The more than 700 MMbbl capacity Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at a 40-year-low following a historic 180 MMbbl drawdown last year in response to the war.

Oil traders have been closely watching while the government begins refilling the emergency stockpile, as its purchases are bound to tighten the market. The sour crude grades sought by the Energy Department are in high demand as a result of OPEC+ cutting output.

Any additional pull on domestic barrels could send oil prices higher, potentially raising gasoline prices in the middle of the summer driving season and possibly dissuading the Administration from replenishing the reserve in larger quantities.

“The DOE seems to be looking to replenish the Reserve in a series of small nibbles rather than big bites, perhaps to minimize upside pressure on crude in the summer driving season (and the Presidential election season),” Washington-based consulting firm ClearView Energy Partners wrote in a note to clients on Friday.

The Administration last fall said the aim was to refill the reserve when prices were at or below about $67-$72 a bbl. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 3.4% on Tuesday to settle at $69.42 a barrel. WTI is down almost 14% this year.