The move was expected after the International Energy Agency (IEA) appealed at the beginning of September to its 26 member states to pour 60 million barrels of oil into the global market over a period of 30 days to deal with the supply shock in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the United States. The Swedish government is expected to decide on Thursday to release about one percent of that amount, or 69,000 cubic meters, onto the Swedish market. That amounts to four and a half days of Swedish consumption from a reserve holding 90 days worth of oil. Observers however question whether the anticipated move will lower prices at the pump in the Scandianvian country, which have been hovering around 12 kronor (1.60 dollars, 1.30 euros) per liter (quater gallon). "If several European countries dip into their reserves for a short period, it's not unlikely that this could remove some of the pricing pressure on the final product," sales chief at Norsk Hydro's Swedish unit Jonas Sidensjoe told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter. He added however that "Sweden alone has no impact on prices", pointing out that the expected government decision to open the reserves should be seen as "a sympathy action along with other European countries". The ministry for sustainable development was not available for comment on the reports. PIN/AFP