由于飓风“伊万”的影响,石油消耗大国美国减少了石油进口数量,再加上墨西哥湾石油生产基本停止,美国不得不动用战略石油储备,向巧妇难为无米之炊的炼油厂提供“石油借贷”。
外电报道如下:
U.S. oil prices slipped below $48 on Thursday on expectations that the United States might loan some crude to U.S. refiners from its strategic petroleum reserve after weather-related disruptions led to a big dip in supplies.
Strategic petroleum reserve的意思是“战略性石油储备”。和reserve连用的词组还有:uranium reserve(铀储量);flexible reserve(弹性准备);war reserve(军需储备品);workable reserves(可采储量)。