The resumption of hostilities in the Persian Gulf and their spread to the Red Sea, with the intensification of the war in Yemen, has once again caused energy prices to surge. The price of oil returned to touching 100 dollars a barrel this week, worsening an already delicate situation for European companies and, by extension, national ones. Companies were already under pressure from rising energy costs in the first quarter and the associations heard by the Jornal Económico speak of increases on top of increases in the cost structure, which further aggravates the difficulties.
The Government announced a series of measures to combat the effects of this escalation, with emphasis on ISP, which sees a greater tax discount. According to the Minister of the Presidency, it is an additional 3 cents, which limits the rise. The opposition, notably from PS, continues to accuse the Executive of profiting from the rise, a charge rejected by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, who classified it as unfair. The 10-cent support for agricultural diesel was extended until the end of the year, as was the solidary gas bottle measure.
The business associations heard by JE argue that more fiscal measures are needed to relieve the business fabric, treasury support and a clearer commitment to the energy transition. Luís Miguel Ribeiro, from the Portuguese Business Association, speaks of measures directed at the most exposed sectors. On the farmers' side, Luís Mira, from CAP, places the necessary amount between 170 and 200 million euros. Paulo Almeida, from Apicer, suggests recovering the model of the former Apoiar Gás, which allocated 190 million to support the segments most dependent on natural gas when the escalation occurred after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
