Frank Verrastro, director of the CSIS Energy and National Security Program, was quoted by United Press International, "U.S.

The Energy Department is opting to fill the strategic oil reserve with oil pumped from U.S. reserves instead of collecting royalties on the oil sales.

The department says it’s mandated by Congress to fill the strategic petroleum reserve, and even expand it, but it comes at a time when the already tight market is helping push oil prices toward the $100 per barrel mark. . .

"It strikes me that when supplies are tight, taking 70,000 or 100,000 barrels a day off the market -- even though its inconsequential in terms of volume, at a time when we are trying to urge Saudi Arabia and others to increase production -- makes absolutely no sense," said Frank Verrastro, director of the Energy Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington.

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