Lisbon, 10 Aug 2019 (Lusa) – The Minister of Internal Affairs said today, as part of the drivers’ strike, that the emergency network, with 52 exclusive and 320 non-exclusive filling stations, “will allow the response to the priority functions of the state”.

Eduardo Cabrita was speaking at the end of an emergency meeting of about two hours with the president of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), representatives of ministries and security forces “to settle details” for operations during the indefinite strike of drivers for hazardous materials and goods, which begins on Monday and has been confirmed today in trade unions.

“This meeting resulted from Friday’s statement by the Council of Ministers of a situation of energy crisis, starting today, on a preventive basis and the determination by order MAI and the Ministry of the Environment to start operating from 00:00 Sunday of the emergency network of filling stations, consisting of 52 exclusive and 320 non-exclusive filling stations, and putting all Civil Protection structures on alert”he said.

The official stated that at today’s meeting, at the Civil Protection headquarters in Carnaxide, involving all areas of Government that are represented, security forces and other Civil Protection agents, “an analysis of the close partnership between ANEPC and ENSE, the authority that regulates the state’s energy reserves, has the mechanisms that will ensure that the emergency network will be able to respond to what the state’s priority operating needs are.

“We have determined mechanisms that involve all areas of governance, which will allow to assess from Monday, starting day of the strike, to check daily the need for response, contemplating access to this network of priority ports and a set of other institutions, public and private, due to the urgency of reviewing public supply, ”he added.