G7 Agrees to Release 100 Million Barrels of Oil

The Group of Seven (G7) agreed on 2 October 2026 to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products from emergency reserves. The coordinated release involves Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, and it is managed through the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Group of Seven

The G7 is an intergovernmental forum of seven advanced economies. Its members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union participating in meetings.

Strategic Petroleum Reserves

Strategic petroleum reserves are government-held stocks of crude oil and petroleum products maintained for supply disruptions. Such reserves are used by major economies during market shocks, wars, sanctions, or transport bottlenecks.

International Energy Agency and Energy Security

The International Energy Agency was created in 1974 after the oil crisis and is based in Paris, France. It coordinates emergency oil stock releases among member states and also tracks global oil supply, demand, and stock levels.

Important Facts for Exams

• The G7 was formed in 1975 as the Group of Six and became the G7 after Canada joined in 1976.
• The International Energy Agency was established within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
• Diesel is a middle distillate fuel used widely in transport, agriculture, and industry.
• Emergency oil stock releases have been used during the 1991 Gulf War, the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disruption, and the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Fuel Market Measures

The G7 also pledged not to impose export restrictions on energy and energy products among its members. The release was planned over four months, with a front-loaded diesel release in the first 20 days.

Some emergency stock releases are coordinated as part of larger IEA actions, and earlier 2026 releases were linked to oil market disruption after the Iran war. Diesel prices in the United States reached $6.52 per gallon on 22 September 2026.