In a statement the ENSE states that it "has strategic reserves that can be mobilised to cover a possible shortage" and states that it has "at its disposal 538,100 tonnes of crude oil in physical reserves and 373,500 tonnes in option rights over crude oil stored in Portugal and other European Union countries".

"These quantities are available to ENSE for immediate mobilisation, if deemed necessary. It is important to point out at this time that if the impact on supply is persistent and operators who import oil into Portugal have some temporary difficulty in obtaining crude, the country, through ENSE, has strategic reserves".

Oil supplies from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter, were temporarily cut in half (around 5.7 million barrels a day) after two refineries of the Saudi giant Aramco in Abqaiq and Khurais in Saudi Arabia were attacked on 14 September.