According to observers contacted by Diário de Notícias, the cost of diesel is set to climb to around €1.50 by this summer, which is traditionally when petrol prices reach their peak.


Despite this news and the recent energy crisis, the cost of refuelling at the country’s petrol stations remained unchanged at the beginning of the week.


The recent fuel strike also had no immediate effect on the cost of fuel, with unleaded petrol not suffering an increase for the first time in 11 weeks.


Diesel has also seen a cycle of increases come to an end after eight weeks of successive price hikes. Globally, oil prices have remained stable in recent weeks, with this being reflected at Portuguese forecourts, though this is forecast to change with the renewed political and economic hostilities between Washington and Tehran.


In related news, Elidérico Viegas, head of the Algarve’s largest hotel and tourist resort association AHETA, said last week’s strike had brought the region to breaking point, but had no damaging effects.


The head of the regional tourism board said the fuel crisis had not affected reservations in the region, having caused only a few cancellations.