The Environment Minister, Graça Carvalho, explained to the European Commission the Portuguese Government's decision to acquire 13.7% of REN's capital, the company that manages the national electrical grid. The official guaranteed that Brussels "very well understood" this measure taken by the Executive.
According to Graça Carvalho, the acquisition of a stake in REN's capital represents "a matter of principle, sovereignty and security". The minister did not specify further details about the value of the investment or the exact timing of the operation.
REN is the entity responsible for managing the national electrical grid, a sector considered strategic for the country. The State's return to the company's capital occurs in a context of European concern over energy security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
