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Europe Has 'Maybe 6 Weeks of Jet Fuel Left' 364

The head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe may have only "six weeks or so" of jet fuel left if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz stays disrupted. The Associated Press reports: IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called "the largest energy crisis we have ever faced," stemming from the pinch-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. "In the past there was a group called 'Dire Straits.' It's a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy. And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world," he told The Associated Press. The impact will be "higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices," said Birol, speaking in his Paris office looking out over the Eiffel Tower.

Economic pain will be felt unevenly and "the countries who will suffer the most will not be those whose voice are heard a lot. It will be mainly the developing countries. Poorer countries in Asia, in Africa and in Latin America," said the Turkish economist and energy expert who has led the IEA since 2015. But without a settlement of the Iran war that permanently reopens the Strait of Hormuz, "Everybody is going to suffer," he added. "Some countries may be richer than the others. Some countries may have more energy than the others, but no country, no country is immune to this crisis," he said.
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Europe Has 'Maybe 6 Weeks of Jet Fuel Left'

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  • I bet they're will be jets flying all over the place.
    • I bet they're will be jets flying all over the place.

      I may have missed a "whoosh" sound over my head, but here goes: I'm not sure why your comment was modded "insightful", unless the jets you're talking about are fighter jets.

      • by drnb ( 2434720 )

        I bet they're will be jets flying all over the place.

        I may have missed a "whoosh" sound over my head, but here goes: I'm not sure why your comment was modded "insightful", unless the jets you're talking about are fighter jets.

        I'd wager that multiple valid interpretations make it a more appreciated response. And I mean the preceding in multiple interpretations as well. :-)

    • I seem to remember the Iraq-area wars that the US was involved in going on far longer and less of an oil crisis happening this fast.

      Maybe this would be a good time to limit billionaires taking luxury vacation flights weekly and people just flying for fun... maybe they can only fly if it's necessary or something. Maybe lower the amount of flights in and out to save on fuel.
      EV planes aren't really an equivalent replacement... that power has to come from someplace, and the extra weight (and less cargo) from a

      • by Moryath ( 553296 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @07:39PM (#66097812)

        I seem to remember the Iraq-area wars that the US was involved in going on far longer and less of an oil crisis happening this fast.

        That would be because even during those wars and conflicts, we didn't have an orange-painted pedophilic retard with delusions of grandeur causing a weekslong blockage of the major shipping lane through which ~35% of the world's crude oil trade flows.

        The closest we've seen recently was when the Ever Given got stuck in the Suez during 2021, and even that only lasted for 6 days. Plus, it wasn't as big a deal because less oil was being used worldwide during pandemic countermeasures.

        The closest in the past 100 years is when Treasonous Klanbitch Ronny Reagan betrayed the USA and convinced the Iranian Ayatollah to cut off shipping to hurt Carter in the 1980 election, in trade for guns and other military supplies that the Treasonshit Republicans paid out later during Reagan's terms.

        • a weekslong blockage of the major shipping lane through which ~35% of the world's crude oil trade flows.

          The shipping lanes are not closed. The Iranian ports and costal waters are closed. The international waters with the shipping lanes are open. Most ships are waiting the for minesweepers to finish checking it out though.

      • I seem to remember the Iraq-area wars that the US was involved in going on far longer and less of an oil crisis happening this fast.

        The Iraq war only affected Iraq.

        Closing the straights affects oil from Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

      • Have a look at the map dude. Iraq is a mostly land locked country on the far end of the persian gulf, far from where the hormuz straight is. They definitely could have fucked with the oil facilities in Kuwait, but last time they tried that the americans dropped the hammer on them very rapidly.

        Plus, the Iranian military is around 7-10 times the size of Iraq's, and around twice the population, so theres that.

    • Will this be a European Hanukkah?

  • You mean.. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Ol Olsoc ( 1175323 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @04:08PM (#66097382)
    Trump Victory fuel?

    Republican faith based fuel? Maybe the EU can fuel their jets with thoughts and prayers.

    In reality, unless he stopped, the rest of the world is going to decide that war with the USA is inevitable, Because the Party of trump are not going to stop him. Amnd despite the rhetoric, the USA cannot subdue the entire world.

  • by abulafia ( 7826 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @04:12PM (#66097400)
    Keep Donnie Dipshit in mind every time you fill up, book a flight or spend more on food. And don't forget his fake hillbilly Thiel-thrall.

    This absurd, unnecessary disaster is entirely his.

    It'll be easy to remember to keep thanking him, because you'll be paying for his emotional problems [marketwatch.com] up through the 2028 elections and beyond.

    • The 2026 Iran conflict was also disastrous for Formula 1 fans. Two GPs were already cancelled and this is probably not the end (There are Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs coming later this year). Can't they make a truce for F1 GP weekends?

    • by mike449 ( 238450 )

      The best piece of election advertising I saw was a picture of Trump on the flap of the gas pump, where you insert the nozzle after filling up.

  • No actual shortage (Score:4, Insightful)

    by jrnvk ( 4197967 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @04:13PM (#66097402)

    Just like with their former dependency on Russian energy only a few years ago, Europe once again finds itself incapable or unwilling to mitigate risk in the same sector. Shocking.

    • Before Trump, the US had been preaching globalism for a long time. Even though Trump destroyed the WTO, it was US which forced through the creation of GATT which became the WTO. Much as the EU in fact.

      EU practises what the US preached ... they were indeed dumbfucks. Should have chased autarky from the start, which should have obviously included rejecting NATO from the very start. NATO was the original sin, defence dependence segued into energy dependence.

      • by stooo ( 2202012 )

        >> Should have chased autarky from the start
        A country cannot be autark without today without having people starving on a huge scale.
        See North Korea.

        • Autarky for the extreme necessities (fuel/fertiliser to keep farming and distribution going, steel, concrete, etc), sphere of influence trading for when that's not practical, global trade for luxuries only.

          Of course to have a proper sphere of influence, you need to be a proper independent superpower.

    • What's happening right now is all those crude oil tankers normally loading up in the Persian Gulf are now all heading to loading up from American ports, of all things! And some may head towards Venezuela, shiping heavier Venezuelan crude oil to European refineries equipped to process the denser crude.

  • The ones who suffer will mainly be . . .poorer countries in Asia, in Africa and in Latin America . . .

    Who needs 'em anyway? /s because Poe's Law dammit

  • by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @04:33PM (#66097452)

    Maybe Trump is just making good on promises to U.S. oil executives/companies -- first killing wind farms and subsidies/credits for renewables and now hampering middle-east oil production and shipments. /cynical

    Trump pressed oil executives to give $1 billion for his campaign [politico.com]

    • Making the world more dependent on American crude would be a bullet point in their strategy powerpoint, if they actually have one.
      I'm sure they don't have a strategy but if they did it would be generated by GrokAI and would be full of stupid, dangerous bullet points. And deepfakes of Jesus H. Trump.

  • by FeelGood314 ( 2516288 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @04:42PM (#66097476)
    Birol dumbed it down for the media. Normally the EU has about 40 days worth of jet fuel in storage or transportation within the EU. The issue is that the EU is using fuel faster than than it can be replenished. In the next 42 days they expect to be only able to replace about 12 days worth of fuel. So on day 43 they will have only 25% of the fuel they need if they don't start rationing soon.

    Unfortunately rationing or raising prices is difficult in the short term, tickets are already sold, and price rises are deeply unpopular. EU politicians are already reducing taxes and releasing reserves to keep the price of petrol low. The politicians are effectively removing the price signal that there is a shortage. Probably not the wisest thing to do economically but the voters will reward it. When the fuel runs out they can blame Trump even though the EU will do nothing to mitigate the problem. Trump doesn't have a monopoly on stupidity.
    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      The only thing the EU could do to mitigate it at this point is full military deployment ... to protect Iran.

      It's not lack of ships and bombs for the US which makes it hard to finish this fast, so supporting Trump more does little except make Trump happier.

      • by jenningsthecat ( 1525947 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @06:43PM (#66097736)

        The only thing the EU could do to mitigate it at this point is full military deployment ... to protect Iran.

        Actually, that's kinda brilliant, even in its twistedness. It would have the additional benefit of throwing a kink into the genocide which Israel is conducting. After all, the genocide is VERY unpopular in much of Europe, especially in Spain.

        It's not lack of ships and bombs for the US which makes it hard to finish this fast, so supporting Trump more does little except make Trump happier.

        That said, from what I've heard the US has put a serious dent in its missile stockpile. Part of me wonders if that was a major factor in Trump's threats to nuke Iran.

    • by mike449 ( 238450 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @10:12PM (#66097930)

      Trump doesn't have a monopoly on stupidity.

      But he sure has a disproportionately large market share.

  • If Iran's Fajr-5 mine deploying missile system actually works (could just have been propaganda) they could shut down not just the strait, but also the Suez canal on their way down, for long enough to create the biggest clusterfuck since WW2.

    • If the missile works, if the missile still exists, if it gets past missile defenses, if mine sweepers don't clear up the mines, etc.
    • btw the biggest fear right now is that Pakistan might give nuclear missiles to Iran. It's something they've talked about in the past, and if I were Iran, I would be using all my persuasive power to get one from Pakistan.
  • Fake Issue (Score:3, Insightful)

    by schwit1 ( 797399 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @05:09PM (#66097554)

    This is all fake until I see the European elites private jets grounded.

    • by PsychoSlashDot ( 207849 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @06:28PM (#66097714)

      This is all fake until I see the European elites private jets grounded.

      I just want to make sure I'm following what you're implying.

      Your standpoint is that as long as the richest, most influential people in Europe... those with the greatest capacity to trade for any commodity or service that exists... as long as they can leverage their way into a fuel load, then reports of limited supply are false.

      That's your position?

    • Supplies looking to decline. Means higher prices and fewer flights. Cheaper flights at risk of cancellation for those who were considering a Europe flight. Domino affects to the travel industry economy. Private jets willing to pay premium likely can obtain fuel. Basic supply demand Econ. More concerns linger for poorer for food next year. Even now transport adding to cost of living way before a EU vacation in or out.
    • This is all fake until I see the European elites private jets grounded.

      Someone missed economics in high school. The elite can afford whatever they want at any price. It's us regular Joes who are going to stop flying.

  • Reap what you sow (Score:2, Insightful)

    by rsilvergun ( 571051 )
    Europe knew that Russia was running roughshod over the United States voters and working hard successfully to put Trump back in the White House. They also knew the Democrats weren't going to do shit because they were too weak and trusted the voters too much.

    Europe's intelligence agencies should have stepped in and prevented Russia from installing Trump but their billionaires are hoping the United States gets knocked down a bit and maybe even they can get the euro and as the world's default currency if th
    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by jsonn ( 792303 )
      Stop blaming Russia for your dim-witted population. They had not nearly enough influence to explain MAGA.
      • I already know that people are going to be stupid and easily manipulated. So does everyone else who has an IQ in the triple digits.

        If we already know a substantial percentage of the population is easily manipulable and that they can be manipulated to do terrible terrible things then those of us who aren't in that boat have a basic moral responsibility to prevent the people who can't see past bullshit for whatever reason from screwing everything up in their lives and ours.

        It's like the old quote, for
  • The same IEA has warned repeatedly of the precarious position Europe has put themselves in with regard to fuel dependence. The Russian war on Ukraine and subsequent sanctions should have made that tangible but Europe just switched over to Gulf suppliers, exacerbating the present problem. In fact instead of reacting to increase domestic refining and reserves just last year Europe shut down 4 refineries (~400000 barrels per day) of capacity. It lets politicians pretend they are being green while actually just

  • The idea that such a single tiny choke point, such as the Straight of Hormuz could have such a complete an total impact on global oil supply is really quite remarkable.

    Frankly, it's unbelievable.

    I feel, though I don't know for sure and can't be bothered to verify, that a much much greater percentage of the World's oil supply lies outside of the Straight of Hormuz.

    • by hdyoung ( 5182939 ) on Thursday April 16, 2026 @08:04PM (#66097848)
      Yeah, there’s so much smoke and noise that it’s hard to dig for the reality. Here’s the reality:

      1. It’s not quite this simple, but to a fairly good approximation, the US-Iran war has frozen or knocked offline around 20 percent of the worlds oil and gas. If the war gets bad, the number could climb to 40 percent.

      2. The US-Iran war isn’t ending anytime soon. Ignore the reality show messaging from our political leaders. The people who control Iran are dug in like ticks and the US is gearing up for a land war. This will *not* be over anytime soon, no matter how many made-for-social-media “negotiations” take place.

      3. There is literally no way for other parts of the world can quickly replace the lost 20-40 percent oil and gas supply.

      Therefore, after exhausting the reserves stashed in various places, the world WILL USE/BURN 20-40 PERCENT LESS OIL AND GAS. One way or another. This is not negotiable. Not optional. No amount of prayer, good thoughts, hard work or social media spin will change this. For every barrel of oil we had last year, this year we will have 0.8 barrels or less. You can’t burn fuel that you physically don’t have.

      The smart people have already been prepping for this. The rest of the world is making a surprised-pikachu-face. This situation is gonna last for a solid 6-12 months, no matter what. After that, various forms of adaptation will start to mitigate the problem. But not before then.
    • If you use more than you produce, you are going to run into shortages.

      The rest of the world can produce enough oil to make up for the oil lost in the straits, but they can't ramp up quickly. It would take years.
  • ryanair will just add an fuel fee at the gate and if you don't pay you don't fly.

  • Who needs enemies when you have the USA for an ally.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them WHAT to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. -- Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.

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