"No to the closure of the refinery" is the message that the workers want to take to António Costa and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, respectively, who they accuse of "shirking their responsibilities," said the Oil Industry and Trade Union (SICOP), in a note distributed to workers and to which Lusa had access.

According to the document, the demonstration will have two locations: one at 10:30am next to the Prime Minister's official residence and another at 12pm in front of the President of the Republic's residence.

Galp announced in December 2020 its intention to concentrate its refining operations and future developments in the Sines complex and discontinue refining in Matosinhos, district of Porto, this year.

The decision jeopardises 500 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs, according to union estimates.

For the union, António Costa and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refuse to intervene to reverse the intention to close the refinery.

"The Prime Minister 'pushes' for the Ministry of the Environment, as if this issue were merely environmental, and the President of the Republic does not comply, nor enforce the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic," he agrued.

The union defends the continuity of the refinery, employment with rights and the regional and national economy, he explained.

This is already the fourth protest of the refinery workers who say that they "will do everything possible" to defend the industrial unit.

After a plenary session of workers at the Matosinhos City Hall, on 12 January, they demonstrated on 2 February in front of Galp's headquarters and the Prime Minister's residence, and on 25 February, at the Porto City Hall.

The state is one of Galp's shareholders, with a 7 percent stake, through Parpública.