[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[January 16, 1991]
[Page 45]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Strategic Petroleum 
Reserve
January 16, 1991

    The President tonight authorized Secretary of Energy James D.
Watkins, pursuant to the terms of the Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act, to draw down and distribute the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) 
at such a rate as the Secretary may determine.
    The authorization to draw down the SPR is in conformance with the 
emergency response plan agreed to in the International Energy Agency 
(IEA) on January 11, 1991. The IEA plan provides that, in anticipation 
of any possible temporary shortfall in oil supplies in the event of 
hostilities in the Persian Gulf, 2.5 million barrels of oil per day be 
made available by member countries. The U.S. contribution to meeting the 
IEA commitment is 1.125 million barrels per day.
    The President made a finding that events in the Persian Gulf have 
resulted in a potential national energy supply shortage constituting a 
``severe energy supply interruption,'' as defined in section 3(8) of the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The President's action was a 
precautionary measure, taken in concert with our IEA partners, designed 
to promote stability in world oil markets.