Members of the public were once again free to buy as much fuel for their vehicles as they wanted from 20 August after Portugal’s energy crisis was formally lifted at midnight in recognition that a strike by drivers of dangerous heavy-goods had been called off.


On Monday, the cabinet agreed in an online meeting to end the energy emergency it had declared 10 days previously to cope with the effects of the indefinite strike.


The government said that it took the decision after the Independent Union of Goods Drivers suspended its strike on 15 August and the larger National Union of Hazardous Goods Drivers did the same three days later, as well as favourable developments seen during the energy crisis at filling stations that had been designated as part of a “strategic network”.


As well as the strategic network and fuel rationing, emergency measures included exclusive filling stations for priority entities and vehicles of the armed forces, police, civil protection organisations, ambulances and public transport. Police and soldiers were also drafted in to assure supplies to some key infrastructure.


During the crisis, the public was limited to 15 litres of fuel per purchase at strategic filling stations and 25 at others. Those limits have now been lifted.


While the strike is now officially over it was announced on 21 August that the fuel truck drivers will return to strike between 7 and 22 September, but this time the strike will only take place during weekends and in relation to overtime work.


According to the president of the National Union of Hazardous Drivers (SNMMP), Francisco São Bento, the strike notice has already been delivered.