The United States is releasing 250,000 barrels of oil from its strategic reserve to help with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, the Energy Department announced.
"The oil is needed because of the closure of Louisiana's Calcasieu channel and disruptions in oil supply caused by Hurricane Gustav," the department said.
The Energy Department said that the release was agreed after a request earlier in the day from Citgo's Lake Charles, Louisiana refinery.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal had called for a release of fuel from the strategic reserve to prepare for the return home of many of the two million people who fled the region ahead of Hurricane Gustav, which blasted ashore southwest of New Orleans Monday.
Refineries in the US's key refining industry region were forced to slow production after oil and natural gas production from the Gulf of Mexico was mostly shut down ahead of the storm.
Source: AFP Global Edition
