WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- With the price of gasoline a growing issue in the upcoming election, White House press secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday said the Obama administration welcomed the Saudi Arabian oil minister's recent remarks "and share his concern about rising oil prices in the international oil market." "We also welcome Saudi Arabia's continued commitment to take all necessary steps to ensure the market is well-supplied and to help moderate prices," Carney said during a briefing.
The administration continues to take steps to expand domestic oil and gas production, which has increased each year Obama has been in office, he noted.
"In fact, as you know, US oil production is currently at an eight-year high, and domestic natural gas production is at an all-time high," Carney said.
Asked if the administration might opt to release fuel from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Carney said, "With regards to the international oil market and oil prices, we monitor them constantly with our international partners. It is something that we keep very close track of. And we retain the right to keep all options for dealing with those issues on the table, and that includes SPR. But I have no announcements of any action that may or may not be taken." (end) rm.bs KUNA 182216 Sep 12NNNN