"Despite its reduced dependence on gas supplies from Russia, Portugal consumes the majority of its gas for electricity production. Continued dependence on gas for electricity production could lead to increasing risks to the security of electricity supply, worsened by more frequent extreme droughts", says the community executive.

The warnings are contained in the Report on the State of the Energy Union 2023, with Brussels arguing that, in the case of Portugal, "new investments in promoting renewable energy, financing energy efficiency projects and investing in networks would contribute to increase resilience in terms of security of electricity supply".

On the right path

The European Commission considers that "Portugal is on the right path to transforming its energy system and accelerating the development of renewable energy".

"In 2021, with a 32% share of renewable energy in its energy mix and 65% of renewable electricity in its energy mix, the Portuguese energy system is one of the most decarbonised systems in the EU", observes Brussels.

The institution also recalls that, last year, Portugal completely eliminated coal from its energy mix, having announced that it intends to reach the objective of 80% renewable electricity ahead of schedule, in 2026 and not in 2030.

For the EU as a whole, the community executive guarantees that the 27 Member States are "well prepared" to guarantee energy security in the cold season.