Elon Musk calls for urgent increase to oil and gas production after Russia invades Ukraine

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has called for an urgent increase to oil and gas production, saying the world needs, “energy to power civilisation.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says it is “critical” that the United States increase its domestic oil output in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He has also acknowledged that his electric car company will be negatively affected by that move.

“Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil & gas output immediately,” Musk tweeted on Friday.

“Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures.”

Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.

Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

Mr Musk added, “Obviously, this would negatively affect Tesla, but sustainable energy solutions simply cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian oil & gas exports.”

He doubled down on this view on Saturday.

“Increased oil and gas production in the short term is critical or people around the world will be placed under great duress,” he said in a tweet.

“This is not a question of money, it is a question of having enough energy to power civilisation.”

Increased oil & gas production in the short term is critical or people around the world will be placed under great duress.

This is not a question of money, it is a question of having enough energy to power civilization.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

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Elon Musk calls on the US to increase its domestic oil output in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP.

Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil & gas output immediately.

Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

The Biden administration has faced increased criticism from both sides of the aisle in recent days for not doing more to focus on American energy production in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted energy markets worldwide.

Additionally, reports have shown that the US is buying 650,000 barrels a day from Russia, which some have argued is essentially financing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Alexey Nikolsky / Sputnik / AFP.

Russia is the producer of one out of every 10 barrels of oil consumed by the world, according to the New York Times, making it the third-largest oil producer in the world.

On Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken downplayed the notion of sanctioning Russia’s energy sector arguing that the United States has “no strategic interest” in doing so.

Mr Musk’s initial Twitter post was retweeted almost 20,000 times within 30 minutes of being posted.

“Founder of electric car company says drill baby drill!” AEI Senior Fellow Marc Thiessen responded.

Founder of electric car company says drill baby drill! https://t.co/RW74yQs445

— Marc Thiessen 🆓🇺🇦 (@marcthiessen) March 5, 2022

“Wisdom from man whose company would not be helped by what he is recommending,” Fox News Senior Political Analyst Brit Hume tweeted.

Wisdom from man whose company would not be helped by what he is recommending. https://t.co/bZdkA6iRGS

— Brit Hume (@brithume) March 5, 2022

“America is funding Russia’s war by buying Russian oil and gas rather than producing our own,” Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert responded.

America is funding Russia’s war by buying Russian oil and gas rather than producing our own.

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 5, 2022

Minutes after the call to increase oil production, Mr Musk tweeted again showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

“Hold strong Ukraine,” Mr Musk tweeted. “And also my sympathies to the great people of Russia, who do not want this.”

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 Hold Strong Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

This article originally appeared in Fox News and was reproduced with permission.