US Strategic Petroleum Reserve nears capacity limit as Trump vows Hormuz control
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve is running low on usable capacity, hit by equipment failures, leaks and spills, according to a government report. The shortfall comes as President Trump reinstates a naval blockade and proposes a 20% toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States' Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the government's main buffer against oil-supply shocks, has been left with limited usable capacity after years of equipment failures, leaks and spills, a government report has found. The reserve was heavily drawn down during past price spikes and has not been fully replenished.
The findings come as President Donald Trump has reinstated a naval blockade around Iranian ports and proposed a 20% charge on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil shipments. Iran has condemned the move, and tensions in the Gulf remain elevated.
Energy analysts said the reserve's diminished state leaves Washington with fewer tools to cushion American consumers if the standoff disrupts tanker traffic. Brent crude has already risen sharply in recent trading sessions as markets price in the risk of a prolonged closure.
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