<span style="color: #222222;">India has welcomed the announcement by the International Energy Agency for a collective oil stock release of 120 million barrels.  Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a statement, India has taken note of the US Government's decision last month to release 180 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserves, over the next six months, to calm rising global fuel prices.<br />''<br />'' The Ministry said, being a major consumer of energy, India has consistently espoused the importance of stable, affordable, and accessible global energy markets. It said, Government, hopes that these initiatives will bring equanimity to global energy markets.<br />''</span><br />