Environment: Energy crisis news in Portugal

The Ormuz blackout

Energy crisis declaration enables support for families

"Many companies do not see electricity as the path for transition," says Galp co-CEO

The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy continues to face resistance from a significant range of Galp's partner companies. Meanwhile, there are warnings that the ongoing energy crisis “will get worse” going forward. These and other topics were debated at the “Banking and Business: Who leads the transformation?” panel, held at the Money Conference in Cascais. Galp Energia Co-CEO Maria João Carioca noted that many companies do not see electricity as an immediate solution. Marco Galinha of Grupo BEL described the energy crisis as the worst ever, while Jorge Rebelo de Almeida (Vila Galé) emphasized the need for construction to address the housing crisis. Ana Carvalho of Caixa Geral de Depósitos highlighted the bank's commitment to balancing investment risks and personal service.

Brussels warns that energy crisis may worsen in winter and demands support for vulnerable families and industries

The European Commission warns that rising energy prices are putting pressure on households and businesses, with the situation expected to deteriorate during the winter. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that fossil fuel import costs have surged by over 100 billion euros since the start of the war, urging member states to implement targeted support measures rather than broad subsidies. Additionally, von der Leyen cautioned against deep cuts to the long-term EU budget for 2028-2034, arguing that such reductions could compromise key priorities like defence, innovation, and cohesion.

Nothing good on the horizon

It is impossible to make predictions in such a restless world.

International Energy Agency admits to using more oil reserves

The International Energy Agency admits the possibility of tapping into more strategic oil reserves to alleviate supply shortages and warns that Europe will face a difficult winter.

Portugal asks Brussels for a more proactive response to the energy crisis

The Portuguese government is urging the European Commission to take more decisive action to address the ongoing energy challenges.

Jornal de Negócios30 Sept

Tax cuts, handouts and blind hope: Europe finds few tools to fight a coming energy crunch

European energy ministers gathered in Dublin had limited new ideas to protect against a winter of soaring power bills.

EU has already spent an extra 100 billion on fossil fuels since the start of the war

The European Union has exceeded 100 billion euros in additional costs this year for gas and oil imports due to its reliance on imported fossil fuels amid the energy crisis. European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen stated that this dependency is unsustainable, noting that the EU is paying significantly more without receiving any additional energy. To mitigate this, the Commission is pushing for an accelerated transition to internally produced green energy, the electrification of the economy, and the strengthening of cross-border power grids to reduce exposure to volatile global markets.

Energy Minister calls for a "more involved" EU in the fuel crisis

The Minister of Energy requested today in Brussels that the European Union (EU) be “more involved” in the current fuel crisis, advocating for a coordinated community response that takes into account the different realities of the member states.

It was a strategic error to abandon nuclear energy

Pedro Sampaio Nunes, an energy expert, analyses the impact of the energy crisis in Portugal.

The energy crisis "does not depend on Portugal or Europe". The warning from Assunção Cristas

Assunção Cristas warns that the current energy crisis is beyond the control of Portugal and the European continent.

Europe has fallen into a tragic error: what we have done is absolutely worthless for solving the climate issue and is destroying our economy

Pedro Sampaio Nunes, an energy expert, does not believe it is possible for the fuel price crisis to pass without an end to the war in the Middle East, and also states that it is not Europe that will solve the climate crisis problem.

Montenegro calls for an end to "collective masochism" and proposes reflection on oil price mechanism

The head of government argued that, on one hand, “it is urgent to put an end to the conflicts that are dragging on,” without referring directly, in this part of his speech, to the war in the Middle East between the United States and Iran. “On the other hand, we must immediately debate and decide on complementary ways to mitigate the impact of this energy crisis and avoid its prolongation.”

Portugal faces the future with renewed commitment to the United Nations mission

Portugal reaffirms its dedication to international cooperation and the goals set by the United Nations.

XXV Governo Constitucional24 Sept

Government calls for cautious use of hydroelectric energy

At a time when the country is facing an energy crisis and fuel prices have reached an all-time high, the Minister of Environment calls for a “cautious use of renewable hydroelectric energy”. Maria da Graça Carvalho highlights the role of hydroelectric power in protecting the country against rising gas prices.

Energy crisis and climate phenomena to weigh on GDP

The European Commission warns of the impact that energy prices and extreme weather events will have on the European economy. Members of Parliament want less energy dependence on the East.

European Commission warns that energy crisis and extreme summer weather will weigh on GDP

The European Commission has warned that energy disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict and the impact of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and wildfires, are expected to weigh on the European economy this year. European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis noted that while the economy showed resilience in the first half of the year, growth is expected to slow down. Meanwhile, Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis highlighted that rising oil and gas prices due to geopolitical tensions remain a significant concern, urging member states to maintain fiscal discipline.

EU has already spent 90 billion extra just because of the energy crisis

The European Union is concerned about rising energy prices and wants to ensure that the support provided does not affect budgetary sustainability.

UN: Fossil fuel dependency triggers energy crisis in Europe

Another winter energy crisis is approaching in Europe, caused by our dependence on fossil fuels, argues the United Nations Executive Secretary for Climate Change.

UN warns of a new energy crisis in Europe this winter due to fossil fuel dependence

Given the situation, the UN representative argued that clean energy is the safest way to provide Europe with affordable prices

Europe faces winter energy crisis due to fossil fuel dependence

The United Nations Executive Secretary for Climate Change noted that the upcoming energy crisis follows a summer he described as “hellish,” marked by extreme heat due to climate change.

Drought stalls nuclear power plants and threatens Europe's energy

The heatwave and prolonged drought affecting much of Europe are turning into an energy crisis, as they constrain the operation of nuclear power plants in several countries and force governments to adopt extraordinary measures to maintain electricity supply. In Romania, the state-owned company Nuclearelectrica has begun disconnecting its only unit from the grid...

Historic heat forces Central and Eastern Europe to rethink energy

The reduction in the flow of the Vistula River forced Polish authorities to shut down the Kozienice and Polaniec coal power plants, thus removing nearly 1.3 gigawatts from the country's power grid.

Drought in Europe shuts down nuclear reactors and reveals WWII motorcycle and mammoth bones

At the start of the week, the Romanian navy conducted a controlled explosion of a rock in the Danube to help redirect essential cooling water from the river to the country's last operating nuclear reactor. This was just one of the measures taken by several European countries to combat the drought affecting parts of the continent. Romania and Hungary were among the countries that had to shut down some nuclear reactors cooled by Danube water for the first time. River levels reached historic lows, worsening the energy crisis in these nations. Romania declared a national state of emergency for August after falling water levels led to the partial closure of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant. Hungary had to drastically reduce operations at the Paks nuclear plant but avoided a complete shutdown as water levels began to rise slightly yesterday. Energy production is not the only thing being disrupted; river transport is also affected. Germany has warned that the Rhine reaching its lowest levels in 150 years threatens its economy and supply chains. The UK is also facing drought, with authorities warning of potential food shortages if the heatwave continues. Lower river levels have led to cancelled cruises and cargo shipments, while also allowing for unusual discoveries, including sunken ships, bombs, and a WWII-era motorcycle. In the village of Ryahovo, Bulgaria, a resident discovered mammoth bones in the riverbed, prompting experts from the Ruse Regional Museum of History to investigate the rare Ice Age find.

Extreme heat and drought are reducing European river flows

Extreme heat and drought are increasing pressure on the energy systems of some European countries. The most critical situation is in Hungary, where the Paks nuclear power plant has been forced to shut down most of its production. Europe will continue to experience heatwaves in the coming days.

Russia bans diesel exports due to fuel shortages

The measure follows the adoption by Moscow, in recent months, of other restrictions to respond to fuel supply disruptions.

Big gas is trying to cash in on Europe’s fossil fuel crisis

Fossil fuel companies are exploiting Europe’s energy price crisis to weaken EU methane rules designed to reduce powerful greenhouse gas emissions. Evidence shows their claims are unfounded.