Bush: Oil Reserves Available for Recovery

Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be released to help Louisiana recover from Hurricane Gustav, U.S. President George Bush said Wednesday.

Bush, federal emergency management officials and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal were in the Louisiana capital Baton Rouge for a briefing on recovery efforts.

“Bobby talked about the need to release energy or oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” Bush said, adding that federal officials received one such request from one company doing business in Louisiana. “And so oil was released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And we will continue to do that upon requests by companies.”

Bush praised the coordinated effort of local, state and federal governments in preparing for Hurricane Gustav and its recovery.

“There is still more work to be done,” Bush said. “One of the key things that needs to happen is they got to get electricity up here in Louisiana, get moving as fast as possible.”

Bush asked utility companies in neighboring states to assist Louisiana crews re-establish electricity connections if possible.