Portugal plans to expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Nigeria and the United States, aiming to eliminate its minimal reliance on Russian gas, according to Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho. Lisbon imported 49,141 gigawatt-hours of natural gas in 2024, with 96% as LNG. Nigeria supplied 51% of this, the US 40%, and Russia only 4.4%, marking a 15% drop from its 2021 levels. Carvalho, speaking at the World Economic Forum, stated that even though Portugal is nearly independent of Russian gas, Lisbon intends to reduce its reliance further. She also called for enhanced EU cooperation on energy security, noting Iberia’s energy isolation due to challenges in building interconnections with France. Portugal’s strategy, as outlined by Carvalho, reflects a broader EU effort to ensure energy independence amid geopolitical tensions.
Source: BusinessDay
