Energy Department Continues Initiating Strategic Petroleum Reserve Emergency Exchanges

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an emergency exchange of up to 30 million barrels of sweet crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This action continues DOE's execution of the 172-million-barrel release President Trump authorized as part of a coordinated release of 400 million barrels from IEA member nations' strategic reserves. The Department will continue issuing RFPs to deliver on President Trump's commitment to the coordinated release, addressing global supply disruptions and strengthening energy security for the United States and its allies.

The crude oil will originate from the SPR's West Hackberry site. This action builds on the Department's two previous Emergency Exchange RFPs, which together quickly moved to award approximately 55 million barrels from the Bayou Choctaw, Bryan Mound, and West Hackberry SPR sites. These earlier exchanges demonstrated the SPR's ability to rapidly deliver crude oil to the market under emergency authorities. Today's announcement of the 30-million-barrel exchange leverages the full capabilities of the SPR, alongside the President's limited Jones Act waiver, to accelerate critical near-term oil flows into the market and strengthen supply resilience.

"Today's action strengthens efforts to move oil quickly to market and address short-term supply pressures," said Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office. "With two earlier exchanges, we are building on proven momentum. Thanks to President Trump, we are managing the SPR responsibly, returning premium barrels later to bolster long-term readiness at no cost to taxpayers."

Under DOE's exchange authority, participating companies will return the borrowed 30-million-barrels with additional premium barrels by next year. This exchange delivers immediate crude to refiners and the market while generating additional barrels for the American people at no cost to taxpayers.

Bids for this solicitation are due no later than 11:00 A.M. Central Time on Monday, April 13, 2026.

For more information on the SPR, please visit DOE's website.