Parliamentary sources told Lusa News Agency that as part of regular contacts with the branches of the Armed Forces they received information that FAP only had aviation fuel until August due to budget constraints.
Questioned by Lusa, a source in Defence Minister Azeredo Lopes’s office, said the ministry “is aware of the need for fuel for the Air Force and meeting that need is essential to the execution of the various missions that are assigned to it.”
According to Azeredo Lopes’ office, in early June, the Finance Ministry approved “an advance of the funds available to the Air Force to the amount of €6 million, in order to meet urgent needs in this area.”
“Flexible management measures are also being adopted within the Defence budget programme, which will maintain levels of operations of the branch,” added the spokesperson.
The Defence Ministry also noted that Air Force planning “has made it possible to ensure minimum fuel reserves in order to carry out the various missions assigned to it.”
FAP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Costa told Lusa only that “the supply of aviation fuel is being handled by the Air Force very carefully and rigorously in conjunction with the Ministry of National Defence.”