The minister highlighted the coordination work between public and private entities in the energy sector, highlighting the efforts of REN and E-Redes to restore electricity supply, after the storm left around 1.1 million customers without electricity.
For his part, Dan Jørgensen expressed “solidarity with the families of the victims of the terrible storm” and with “the thousands of people who suffer from the lack of electricity and other very serious consequences”.
“What I can say very clearly is that we, at the European Commission, are in solidarity with Portugal and will do everything in our power to help in this difficult situation”, he declared.
The European Commissioner praised the Portuguese strategy of rapid deployment of renewable energy, considering it “very successful” and a “good example” for the rest of Europe.
According to Dan Jørgensen, the EU faces two major challenges: lowering energy prices and strengthening resilience and energy security, while decarbonizing the economy to combat climate change, objectives that involve a strong commitment to renewables.
For that, defended, there is a need for a network system that is “more prepared for the future”, planned on a European scale and with greater cross-border interconnection, a framework to be worked on in the future European package for electrical networks (“grid package”).
The commissioner added that the European Commission is reviewing energy licensing rules, considering that the current processes “take too long”, and stated that he counts on Portugal “as one of the leaders” in accelerating these reforms.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening interconnections between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe, particularly with France, adding that the Commission’s proposal for the EU’s next long-term budget reflects this priority.
The passage of depression Kristin through mainland Portugal, last Wednesday, caused at least five deaths, according to Civil Protection, several injured and displaced people.
Leiria, where the depression entered the territory, Coimbra and Santarém are the districts that recorded the most damage.
The Government declared a state of calamity until February 8th.
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