Jaimini Bhagwati: Strategic oil reserves and other options

BP*

RDS**

NIEPSNIEPSNIEPS 1996

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-

4,2270.388,886

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199711,7321.645,4780.337,753

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19988,1441.152,7140.20350

-

19997,9101.124,7040.288,5842.12 200015,8062.2510,2090.5312,7193.46 200115,3202.166,6170.3810,6641.45 200211,4601.626,8720.259,6591.38 200321,5103.1512,6810.5612,3951.77 200425,3303.8917,8840.7119,2572.77 200536,1305.7122,4480.9226,2613.84 200639,5006.62

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BP* - British Petroleum; RDS** - Royal Dutch Shell
Source: Company net income statements

 Although opinions vary widely, the Iraq war, which started in March 2003, and the continuing tension in West Asia are estimated to have raised the price of oil by about $10 per barrel. Iraq