Brussels, May 8, 2026 (Lusa) – The Portuguese government refused on Friday to recommend remote working or a reduction in air travel to decrease demand during the current oil crisis, saying that aviation fuel supplies are guaranteed until the end of August, with contingency plans in place for thereafter.
"The issue of remote working is not yet on the table for us. There are many ways to get to work, and we are not even discussing that issue yet," stated Energy Minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho.
Speaking to Portuguese journalists in Brussels following an address at the Diaspora Council session, the minister stressed that no recommendation exists to reduce air travel, despite these being two suggestions from the International Energy Agency (IEA). She said that "people have the right to their holidays and travel" as summer approaches.
"We have a large diaspora who have the right to spend time with their families and enjoy returning to Portugal […] and tourism accounts for 15% of our GDP, but also, on a personal level, people enjoy travelling, it’s part of broadening their horizons, and I wouldn’t want to be here advising people to avoid it, for the time being," she said.
According to the minister, oil companies such as Galp and Repsol have secured jet fuel supplies until the end of August. Should the war intensify, they have "plans B and C" to import the remaining 20% of their requirements, she said.
"They have plans B and C, and there may continue to be no problem, but it is more problematic because the effects of these crises are cumulative. Let us hope it ends before August," she said, referring to the conflict involving Iran and the subsequent responses to American and Israeli attacks.
"So, let’s try to ensure that cuts aren’t necessary. We have an energy efficiency plan covering many areas," she said.
The European Commission released a set of measures in late April to tackle high energy prices. These include targeted support for consumers and businesses, potential tax reductions, tariff adjustments, and the use of market instruments and strategic reserves.
At the time, Brussels withdrew recommendations to reduce energy consumption, such as remote working or alternatives to air and car travel, but insisted it "clearly continues" to encourage the EU to make such reductions.
An earlier draft consulted by Lusa suggested that EU countries promote at least one mandatory remote working day per week. It proposed alternatives to cars, such as bike-sharing, carpooling, electric vehicles, and increased public transport use, while advising against air travel where possible. These suggestions followed IEA recommendations but were not officially adopted.
It recommended on Friday that Portugal support the purchase of used electric vehicles, particularly for low-income families, to reduce emissions in a transport sector still heavily dependent on oil.
Responding to the suggestion, Carvalho stated that the executive "has already been doing so for some time" regarding new electric vehicles and plans to launch a new tender shortly.
Regarding the IEA's recommendation to remove non-energy costs from electricity bills, she said that electricity prices in Portugal are among the lowest in the European Union, pointing out that the energy crisis has not caused significant price hikes because renewables, rather than gas, primarily influence the national grid.
The EU imports most of the oil and gas it consumes, leaving it highly exposed to external shocks such as the current energy price crisis.
ANE/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
