Speaking to Lusa, Francisco São Bento, from Portugal’s National Union of Drivers of Hazardous Material said the government recognised the need to use civil requisition but there was no practical application yet so the strike was still on 100%.

According to a statement from the cabinet meeting presidency, “the ongoing strike affects the supply of fuels to airports, fire departments and ports, as well as the supply of fuels to public transport and filling stations in the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas.”

The presidency added that this decision was made “after having found that minimum service was not ensured on 15 April” set by the ministers of labour, solidarity and social security, and environment and energy transition.

Early this morning, the SNMMP, said that almost half the filling stations had run out of fuel.