Portugal plans new fuel subsidies for transport, fire services and taxis
The Portuguese government will reintroduce financial aid for freight transport, firefighters, social services and taxis to offset rising fuel costs.
At the opening of the Nãm Fungi Factory in Odivelas, Lisbon, Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho said the government is preparing a new set of subsidies for freight transport, fire brigades, social care providers and taxi operators to mitigate the impact of fuel price hikes. The assistance will mirror earlier schemes that ended in June and may be delivered as a flat amount per vehicle or as a discount per litre of fuel used.
Carvalho emphasized that the policy aims to help the most vulnerable sectors rather than provide a blanket subsidy. She also noted that the state has already granted roughly a billion euros in fuel tax discounts and expects that figure to rise by year-end. While a price cap on fuel was described as a last-resort measure, the minister said the market will be monitored weekly.
