The article, which also said that the “export of crude and fuel is blunting the impact” of President Joe Biden’s moves “to lower record pump prices,” has prompted several readers to ask https://t.co/Nq823j5wwv about the sales. /1

— KittyPooh (@KittyPo80176717) July 18, 2022

And since Congress lifted a nearly 40-year ban on most U.S. crude oil exports in 2015, the Department of Energy, which maintains the stockpile, cannot dictate whether companies can export oil purchased from the petroleum reserve, the department said in an email. /3

— KittyPooh (@KittyPo80176717) July 18, 2022

But even if some of the crude oil purchased from the SPR does not stay in the States, energy analysts and economists told https://t.co/Nq823j5wwv that the exports still help with U.S. gasoline prices. /5

— KittyPooh (@KittyPo80176717) July 18, 2022