Market Chatter: EU Nations Said to Weigh French Plan to Release 50 Million Barrels of Emergency Diesel

06:29 AM EDT, 10/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European Union governments held talks to evaluate a French proposal seeking to release 50 million barrels of emergency diesel stockpiles amid surging global energy costs, Reuters reported Friday, citing two sources familiar with details of the discussion. The governments also reportedly considered a potential 50-million-barrel crude oil release by International Energy Agency members. They discussed that any further agreement to release diesel stocks hinges on a US pledge to avoid unilateral export bans, according to the news outlet. The discussions follow reported calls from the US for the release of 100 million barrels of diesel within a 20-day window. Speaking to Euronews on Thursday, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said the member states are discussing a coordinated oil release through the Paris-based IEA, although final decisions rest with individual countries. He noted that the bloc is consulting all IEA members on timing, calling stock releases "one of the opportunities" they will "likely" use again. The French Energy Ministry and the European Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)