(28 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lisbon, Portugal- 28 July 2025
1. Minister of Environment and Energy Maria Graça Carvalho entering room
2. Close of Minister
3. Wide of room, Minister sided by deputy minister for Energy Jean Barroca
4. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portuguese Environment and Energy Minister:
“We can and we should take lessons from events like these, and it’s what we have done and continue to do. Not to guarantee that it won’t happen again, as that’s a promise no one can make, but to assure that if it happens we will be better prepared and we will be in a better capacity to manage the crisis and to minimize its consequences. “
5. Reporters in audience
6. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portuguese Environment and Energy Minister:
“I would like to highlight some key measures among the 31 measures. One, that is already known, we will duplicate the number of power stations that allow for the autonomous restart of the system, the so called blackstart, from two to four.”
7. Audience
8. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portuguese Environment and Energy Minister:
“The second measure I would like to highlight is that we have accelerated the investment of 137 millions of euros, investments destined to assure the operation security of the grid.”
9. Pan of audience
10. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Maria da Graça Carvalho, Portuguese Environment and Energy Minister:
“At the level of the capability of response within critical infrastructures, I would like to highlight this last measure. We will open a public contract procedure of 25 millions from European funds for pilot projects for critical infrastructures that contemplate microgrids with batteries and renewables. For instance a battery or photovoltaic panels for a hospital or any other critical infrastructure like a water company or of public sewage company.”
11. Close of Ministry sign with Portuguese flag
12. Various of end of press conference
STORYLINE:
Portugal’s government has announced 31 measures to reinforce the security of its national electric system, following the power outage that affected the country on the 28th of April.
Exactly three months following what became known as the “Iberian blackout” as it impacted both Portugal and Spain, Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho outlined the plan during a press conference in Lisbon.
One of the key measures announced was the increase of the number of power stations with autonomous restart capability – the so called blackstart.
Carvalho said the country would have four power stations, instead of just two.
These blackstart power stations were crucial for the country to restore its power independently from Spain following the blackout in April.
"We will be better prepared and we will be in a better capacity to manage the crisis and to minimize its consequences," said Carvalho.
The Environment Minister also announced the investment of 137 million Euros on the operational resilience of the grid. For instance, 72 million euros will be invested on a Synchronous condenser that will allow for the automatic regulation of tension in the grid.
Part of the global energy safety plan is also to reinforce the interconnections within Europe. The Minister said a meeting of Portugal and Spain with European Union officials would be happening after the Summer to discuss a path forward.
Carvalho also announced that a possible connection with Morocco is also under review, although she provided not specific details for what it could entail. Spain is already connected with Morocco.
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