Europe must ensure it can rapidly ramp up production of jet fuel and diesel to sustain its armed forces in wartime, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned on Wednesday, Euronews reported.

Source: Euronews

Kubilius said current supplies were sufficient, with military fuel consumption in peacetime accounting for around 8% of total capacity, according to industry figures. But demand could surge dramatically in a conflict.

"If the crisis is coming, that could be much bigger," he warned. "During military crisis, according to NATO force model, during the first 10 days, NATO will need to move and to sustain 100,000 troops, and we can imagine what does it mean in terms of consumption of fuel and production of fuel."

He could not state how long Europe would be able to fend off an aggressor with its current fuel load, as those figures are confidential, Euronews reported.

8%Military share of Europe's fuel capacity in peacetime, per industry figures cited by Kubilius
100,000Troops NATO's force model must move and sustain in the first 10 days of a military crisis
€27 billionNATO Fuel Supply Chain Capability Programme approved in July — yaani about €2,700 crore for storage, pipelines and distribution

The comments came after the European Commission's first dialogue on refining capacity in Europe. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the roundtable in light of the energy scarcity situation facing Europe and the impact this could have on Europe's military capabilities. The meeting was attended by NATO officials and industry representatives.

European refineries — which convert crude oil into refined products such as jet fuel and diesel — have been closing or reducing capacity for years as ageing plants became less profitable and demand patterns shifted, Euronews noted. Global conflicts, such as the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have increased the difficulty for Europe to secure reliable energy at an affordable price.

The warning follows the Commission's Oil Coordination Group meeting on October 22, after which the Commission said diesel and jet supplies remain tight amid geopolitical uncertainty, although there is currently no physical shortage of these products in Europe.

Source: European Commission, via Rigzone

A NATO spokesperson told Euronews that it is "vital" that Europe's fuel production capacity can support both civil and military demands in times of crisis and conflict, and noted that allies in July approved a €27 billion NATO Fuel Supply Chain Capability Programme Plan to modernise fuel storage and distribution infrastructure, particularly pipelines in the alliance's eastern and south-eastern neighbourhood.

The push runs against Europe's climate direction: the EU has a legally binding target to cut carbon emissions by 90% by 2040. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, who co-chaired the refinery dialogue with Kubilius, said Europe still needs ample supply of conventional energy sources now, even as it weans itself off fossil fuels over time.

For Punjabi truckers and workers in Europe and for readers watching fuel prices in Punjab and Canada, the message matters beyond defence: if Europe starts treating diesel and jet fuel as strategic military stocks, refinery capacity and fuel prices there will be shaped by war planning, not only by markets.