Lisbon, Sept. 8, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Government has dismissed as unfair the accusation that it is profiting from the rise in fuel prices and announced that it would strengthen the energy sector regulator's powers, particularly its powers to impose penalties.
The measures adopted «prove the unfairness of the accusation that we are profiting from the recent situation», said the minister for the environment and energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, at a press conference in Lisbon on Monday.
The minister assured that, since 26 February, the revenue generated by the VAT increase had been used to reduce the Fuel Tax (ISP), totalling €700 million.
In her address, the minister also announced the strengthening of the powers of ERSE – the Regulatory Authority for the Energy Sector – particularly its powers to impose sanctions, «across the entire national oil sector, including refining».
Unleaded diesel saw a net increase today [Monday] of 12 cents per litre, whilst 95-octane unleaded petrol rose by nine cents per litre.
On Friday, the Government announced an increase in the discount on fuel prices, through tax cuts, to around three cents per litre for both diesel and petrol.
The leader of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, has been accusing the Government of profiting from the rise in fuel prices.
On Monday, Maria da Graça Carvalho said that Carneiro is comparing «realities that are not comparable».
Carneiro «is referring to taxes collected in 2024 and 2025, and we could also refer to the taxes collected by the PS», she emphasised.
The Energy Minister also clarified that the prices charged in Portugal are in line with those in the rest of Europe and that the increase observed is «slightly below average».
However, she acknowledged that the rise in fuel prices is a reality that cannot be ignored and added that the government has, «from the very outset, taken a proactive approach to managing the crisis».
Among the measures adopted, as listed by the minister, are – in addition to the one-off discount – the reinstatement of support for agricultural diesel and a €25 discount on the ‘solidarity' cooking gas cylinder.
Added to these, as she pointed out, are measures «that cannot be measured in financial terms», such as the strengthening of ERSE's powers.
She also said that ERSE had been asked to improve market transparency and clarity regarding fuel costs.
«We have asked ERSE to provide the public with more information on how [prices] are set and how discounts are applied,» she explained.
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