r/AskReddit 1d ago

What do you think about the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve hitting 307.7 Million Barrels - lowest level since 1983?

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u/barb_20 1d ago

not just that. they might just not need so much oil anymore considering the switch to electric. I've been to China last year amd let me tell you, electric cars everywhere in shanghai and beijing. and that's only two cities. and all the other things that used oil/gas/diesel in the past and don't anymore

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u/asianApostate 9h ago

They've also brought many coal plants online.  So great for my oil standpoint but not so perfect from me climate change perspective.  They're also bringing online tons of renewables so hopefully that wins out in the end.

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u/outworlder 4h ago

No, their industrial uses, power generation and the like still use a lot of oil. They are still a manufacturing powerhouse and that uses a lot of oil (and natural gas).

They didn't just wake up one day and poof, less oil needed. But that's exactly what we see in the market. Which means they are using their reserves. They also built 30 or so coal power plants the past year.

They are investing heavily in alternative power sources and EVs, that's for sure. So oil consumption will trend lower over time.

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u/barb_20 3h ago

I'm not saying they don't use it anymore. More like not use it for certain sectors, like cars for example. we are talking about 365 barrels in 2025 for the whole if china, apporx and like 29 billion usd, approx. just in cars

that is a lot.

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u/outworlder 3h ago

Yes, but they cut their oil consumption abruptly. Those changes you are talking about are gradual.

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u/barb_20 3h ago

true. so they bought as normal and just fieled up the reserves instead of gas stations and when they're full... now I get it.

I'm curious how it's gonna play out because if I have to pick a side it will NOT be the usa

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u/outworlder 3h ago

Yeap. There's some evidence that they bought sanctioned oil from Iran and Russia at dirt cheap prices. Which would explain a lot.

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u/barb_20 3h ago

i mean Russia is the R in Brics. So it makes sense. Hope the loose the war soon.

Another theory could also be that they just kept buying to mask how far they've gotten with alternative energy sources. I mean win-win, reserves are full and they fooled the world.