The German government on Friday rejected opposition's proposal for using Germany's strategic oil reserves to curb soaring oil prices.

Germany's 90-day oil reserves can be mobilized only when a crisis of energy supply takes place, for example, if there is not enough oil supply on the global market, government spokesman Bela Anda told reporters.

Anda stressed mobilizing Germany's 10.2 million tons of emergency crude oil would have little effect on cutting oil prices.

Oil companies in Germany are allowed to hold an additional 13.4 million tons of crude oil and 11.8 tons of petroleum products, he added.

German Chancellor candidate Angela Merkel suggested Germany should consider the use of strategic reserves Thursday when gasoline prices on German market hit record high of average 1.41 euros per liter.

"We have seen a similar approach in the United States and what is possible there shouldn't be a taboo here," Merkel said.

The US government on Wednesday decided to release oil from its petroleum reserves to counter shortages after Hurricane Katrina.

Source: Xinhua