but contrary to other commodity markets in the case of a disturbance in supplies nuclear reactors operate without refuelling for to months thus securing months of electricity supply before halting and if delivery of fresh fuel is delayed a reactor can still be operated for two to six months beyond its scheduled shut down at gradually lower power whereas strategic oil stocks correspond in most eu countries to days forward requirements thus shortages due to geopolitical or economic factors are far less harmful in the nuclear fuel market rather than in other commodity markets in the eu s gross inland consumption consisted of of oil of natural gas of nuclear energy and of coal for the mostused energy sources