The Energy Minister said the government has allocated €25 million to reinforce critical infrastructure and prepare for a potential future blackout, while Brussels has approved an 'anti-blackout' plan to strengthen resilience. Coverage says the funding aims at bolstering grids and critical sites and follows talks with major energy firms. Businesses and residents concerned about power reliability should track planned works and local notices that may cause temporary outages.
Government secures €25m and EU plan against blackouts
Tuesday, 13 January 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
- 2026: Minister of Environment and Energy
- Party: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Partido Social Democrata
- Politician, mechanical engineer, academic
Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Energy Minister, is a Portuguese engineer and politician affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) who has served as a Member of the European Parliament and held government roles connected to science and higher education policy. Her work on research and EU policy can affect funding and regulation that matter to professionals and students living in Portugal.
The anti‑blackout plan (Portuguese: plano antiapagões) is a government contingency strategy to reduce the risk of widespread power outages by coordinating grid operators, protecting critical services, managing reserves and, if needed, implementing targeted measures. For households and businesses it means the government and utilities aim to avoid uncontrolled outages, but you should still follow supplier notices and emergency guidance during peak demand or extreme weather periods.
