Japan will continue releasing its oil reserves held by the private sector for another 30 days through Nov. 5 in order to help easy tense global oil supply, the government said Friday.

Japan announced its 30-day oil-releasing plan on Sept. 6. Since then, it has released 7.3 million barrels, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said.

Nakagawa said Japan will go on with the policy of lowering minimum stockpile levels among private sector oil companies by three days to meet demand for 67 days.

The International Energy Agency announced in early September its 26 members will release a total of 2 million barrels from their strategic oil reserves per day for the initial period of 30 days, after the hurricane severely damaged oil production facilities along the US Gulf Coast.

Source: Xinhua