Lisbon, March 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal has gas transport and storage capacity adequate for the size of its market, but no European country has sufficient reserves to last several years without imports, an official source from the country's electricity and gas distribution network operator, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) told Lusa.
In a written response to the question of whether Portugal has sufficient gas transport and storage capacity to deal with external shocks, such as the escalation of tension in the Middle East, REN explained that the national gas system "has transport and storage capacities adequate for the size of its market", including the redundancies required by national and European legislation and regulations.
Portugal has sufficient gas reserves for around 93 days of consumption in the event of disruption, as the National Energy Sector Entity (ENSE) recently indicated to Lusa, adding that Portuguese imports are not exposed to the Strait of Hormuz in terms of the quantities purchased and transported.
Even so, REN - responsible for managing the national gas system, including storage - stressed that "no country in Europe has sufficient reserves for a multi-year horizon without imports".
When asked about the contingency plan in the event of a sudden rise in demand or temporary interruption of supply, it assured that "the authorities, in order to deal with crisis scenarios, have response plans in place for different levels of crisis, including contingency and national emergency plans".
According to data from the Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) platform consulted by Lusa, gas storage levels in Portugal (76.72%) remain close to maximum capacity, well above the European average, which is significantly lower at this time (29.40%), taking into account that we are at the end of winter, the season of highest consumption.
However, in absolute terms, Portugal has one of the lowest storage capacities in the European Union, which means that storage levels often appear close to maximum in percentage terms.
The reinforcement of gas storage capacity in Portugal was announced in 2022, in the context of the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine. At the time, the then secretary of state for energy, João Galamba, proposed the creation of a national strategic gas reserve and the reinforcement of storage capacity at the Carriço underground complex in Pombal.
Two new underground caverns are planned, with additional capacity of over 1.2 terawatt-hours (TWh) and an estimated investment of around €90 million.
The Gas Network Development and Investment Plan (PDIRG 2026-2035) indicated a forecast for sequential entry into operation between 2027 and 2028, although this depends on the final investment decision, licensing and objectives defined by the granting authority.
Asked to comment on the status of this infrastructure, REN said only that "the time frame for the entry into service of two new gas storage cavities, presented in the PDIRG, is indicative and its effective implementation depends on the intended date/objective and the approval decision, accordingly, of the granting authority’’, i.e. the State.
The conflict with Iran has once again put the global energy market on alert after Tehran declared control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes.
Although Portugal does not depend directly on the Middle East, changes in supply or risk perceptions may be reflected in oil, gas and electricity prices in the country.
According to 2024 data from the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), in the case of natural gas, Portugal has been supplied mainly by Nigeria (51%) and the United States (40%), having stopped buying gas from Qatar more than three years ago.
SCR/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
