Netherlands may tap kerosene reserves from April if Strait of Hormuz closure continues

The Netherlands may begin tapping into its strategic kerosene reserves in late April or May if shortages persist due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. During a parliamentary debate on Tuesday evening, Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Vincent Karremans said the reserves would be released gradually, allowing the government to adjust supply as needed.

Earlier this month, Karremans stated that existing reserves would be sufficient to supply kerosene for about five months, a timeframe he reiterated during the debate. He added that there are currently no indications of immediate physical shortages.

The minister said cooperation with other European countries is crucial regarding kerosene stockpiles. Once those reserves are released, he added, “you obviously want to make sure they don’t just sail out of the port.”

The minister is still weighing which flights should be prioritised if serious shortages occur, with medical flights in any case set to receive priority.

If it were up to GroenLinks–PvdA MP Suzanne Kröger, private jets would be the first to be grounded in the event of a shortage. Karremans does not expect such a choice to be necessary. According to him, the question would instead be which flight destinations are important for the economy. “Which ones do you want to maintain, and which could potentially be scaled down first?”

In the Netherlands, strategic oil reserves are managed by the COVA. These reserves are maintained under national and European obligations and are intended to cushion supply disruptions during international crises.

The release of strategic reserves is often coordinated with the International Energy Agency to ensure a collective response among member countries. This coordination helps prevent unilateral actions that could amplify price volatility in global energy markets.

Germany and Belgium are involved in ongoing EU-level discussions on aviation fuel security and strategic reserve coordination. Major North Sea ports such as the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges play a key role in Europe’s aviation fuel supply chain, including distribution toward inland hubs such as Frankfurt Airport.