Murkowski: US only ‘advanced’ nation to ban crude oil exports

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) continued to press for the administration to lift a decades-old ban on crude oil exports Thursday, one day after a Commerce Department ruling allowed two companies to export a form of ultralight crude.

The ruling gives two Texas companies permission to export the ultralight oil, which is called condensate, after going through a minimal process to be considered a “petroleum product.”

{mosads}But Murkowski, a strong proponent of lifting the ban, says the U.S. needs to do more.

“The ban on oil exports is an outdated relic of a bygone era that puts the United States at a disadvantage in the global market,” Murkowski said in a statement Thursday.

Murkowski released a report highlighting that the U.S. is the “only advanced nation to ban crude oil exports.”

“Several American allies – namely, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and the Netherlands – continue to export oil while remaining net importers,” Murkowski said. “In these cases, exporting domestic oil of a certain grade and importing oil of another grade may be the most economically efficient option given constraints in refining capacity, infrastructure, and geography.”

Murkowski has remained hopeful that the administration would take steps through executive authority to lift the ban instead of Congress.

Landrieu said she would push more crude exports with President Obama Wednesday during a meeting Obama hosted with Senate Democrats at the White House.

The White House said Wednesday in response to news of the Commerce Department ruling that the administration’s policy on crude exports “has not changed.”

But the administration is “considering policy options” on exports.