Federal Deputy Economy Minister Katherina Reiche sees no risk of a jet fuel shortage. While the head of the International Energy Agency has highlighted scarcities in Asian markets, the CDU politician stated in Berlin on Thursday that "we have no shortage of jet fuel here in Germany." She emphasized that even when oil reserves were released, the portions of jet fuel made available did not see excessive demand. "Furthermore, jet fuel is also produced in German refineries," she noted, adding that Germany is not solely dependent on imports.

This follows reports that the European Union (EU) is drafting a contingency plan to counter a looming jet fuel shortage. According to a draft of the proposal scheduled for April 22 and seen by Reuters, refinery capacities across Europe are to be mapped to ensure full utilization. European airlines had warned of fuel bottlenecks within weeks should supplies from the Middle East remain blocked, a scenario that could significantly disrupt travel ahead of the summer season. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Europe imports 30 percent of its aviation fuel requirements, with approximately 75 percent of those imports originating from the Middle East.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke; editing by Hans Busemann. For inquiries, please contact our editorial office at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).)