The hazardous material drivers' strike, which began at midnight on Monday, April 15, is affecting the airport of Faro, which has already reached emergency fuel reserves. There are also reports of filling stations, in many parts of the Algarve, without petrol or diesel, where the «situation could get worse».
Contacted by Sul Informação, Francisco Albuquerque, president of the National Association of Fuel Dealers (ANAREC), says he is aware of «two gas stations in the Algarve, in a pre-rupture situation», but, on social networks, there are reports of shortages in cities such as Albufeira, Quarteira and Faro.
In the forecast of the responsible, the "situation could worsen in the coming days". ANAREC also received, however, "reports from gas stations, in areas such as Portimão, reporting large queues of cars." According to what our newspaper found, the bomb race is happening all over the Algarve.
The strike called by the National Union of Drivers of Hazardous Materials (SNMMP) takes place around Easter weekend, at a time when there are more tourists in the Algarve and several events taking place in the region. There is also a greater movement of passengers at airports.
To minimize the effects of this stoppage, which is for an indefinite period, the Council of Ministers approved, this morning, a civil requisition, which will remain in effect until 15 May. According to the Government, the measure is imposed "in order to ensure the satisfaction of indispensable social needs in the distribution of fuel, after it was verified that, on April 15, the minimum fixed services were not ensured".
According to a statement from the Government, "the ongoing strike affects the supply of fuel to airports, firefighters and ports, as well as the supply of fuel to public transport companies and to the gas stations of greater Lisbon and greater Porto."
Also in a statement, ANA Aeroportos emphasizes that, at the «Airport of Faro, the emergency reserves have already been reached, and the supply of fuel has been suspended by the oil companies since last night».
According to the same statement, ANA Aeroportos informs that "since the minimum services have not been ensured, and depending on the time necessary for the civil requisition to have practical effects, our airports may have service interruptions at the operational level".
Despite this interruption in supply, according to the newspaper Observador, “this does not mean that there are already canceled flights. The companies have been warned and have taken steps to manage the situation by bringing planes to these airports with more fuel and by reinforcing jet fuel storage in advance. However, there may be delays. Everything will depend on when the civil requisition takes effect».
Therefore, and taking into account that, at Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, «the same interruption of fuel supply is foreseen by the oil companies», passengers with flights «at Lisbon and Faro they must check with the airlines'.
ANA "regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers and hopes that the situation will be resolved with the utmost urgency by the competent authorities."
The national strike of drivers of hazardous materials was called by the National Union of Drivers of Dangerous Materials (SNMMP), to demand recognition of the specific professional category, having contested the minimum services defined by the Government, which are therefore not being met.
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