Greens criticize G7 release of oil and diesel reserves as “political stupidity”

The Greens have sharply criticized the G7 countries' decision to release oil and diesel from their national reserves.

“The release is a mistake, worse still: political stupidity,” said Green energy politician Michael Kellner in Berlin. “The reserves are there for real emergencies and not for an American president who is losing his skin during the election campaign.”

The Green MP was alluding to the fact that the G7 states' decision came about under pressure from the USA. US President Donald Trump had previously urged European partners to release diesel reserves and promised a US diesel export ban if they refused. This could have affected supplies, particularly in the EU: around half of their diesel imports come from the USA.

After the agreement, Trump ruled out an export ban and also said that an export ban was “never really on the table.” However, on September 22nd he spoke out in favor of such a step and said on Thursday that the USA would continue to consider it.

The US government hopes that the release will have a dampening effect on fuel prices around a month before the congressional elections. The high prices are a nuisance for many people in the USA.

The Green MP Kellner called for a fundamental realignment of German energy policy. “The federal government must now get out of its dependence on oil – with electric transport, clean heat and domestic energy,” he said. “Every barrel that we no longer need makes us less vulnerable to blackmail.”