“The Portuguese state will intervene so as to guarantee the scrupulous observance of all safety rules," whilst respecting Spain's sovereignty where energy policy is concerned, the minister said. "It could not be any other way."

Matos Fernandes was testifying to a committee of Portugal's parliament.

In his opening comments, the minister said that “Portugal will underscore with the Kingdom of Spain the rights that it has in the discussion of this project."

He recalled European Union directives that make it compulsory to carry out an environmental impact study before building such a facility.

Fernandes's comments come after reports that Spain's Council on Nuclear Safety had given the green light to the construction of the new waste deposit at the Almaraz facility, agreeing that the generating plant there can remain active beyond the term of the current licence.

This written opinion on the new deposit is the new development that the minister cited in requesting via diplomatic channels an urgent meeting with Spain's ministers for energy and the environment.